>> As President Donald Trump and Elon Musk seek to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

They're asking employees to take a buyout.

That's big in Washington, D.C., of course.

But in the Chicago area, too, the federal government is the state's second largest And joins us now with more.

Amanda Brandeis on the surface.

It seems like a great deal.

Keep on working until September, not doing any work.

Still getting paid but many federal employees who in late January got an e-mail from Elon Musk, the subject line fork in the road have been sweating like chlorine.

Talk >> Morale is at an all-time low.

These are folks who are in the civil service.

They're not political workers were here doing work that, you know, can kind of be taken for granted.

But it is in fact, what keeps our air breathe, a bull and our water drinkable every single day.

>> She works for the Environmental Protection Agency, but I spoke with cargos in her capacity as a local union leader.

The American Federation of Government employees has sued Trump over the offer today was supposed to have been the deadline for workers to decide if they take it.

But this afternoon, a judge extended and like you said, at first glance, seems like a good deal.

But but one of the problems over one tackle says that the work that the Environmental Protection Agency does is important.

She says that some Midwest, EPA workers have been deployed to LA to respond to the fire and even there some of them got put on leave the EPA in place inspectors to prevent toxic leaks.

She says.

>> EPA.

We have lots of folks who are out there doing preventative work to make sure our air and water and soil stay clean.

And then we have emergency responders, oaks writing permits, folks giving out grants awarding contracts, making sure bills are paid on time.

>> She says these are jobs.

America needs to be filled.

But there's also a weariness that the offers too good to be true.

Congress has not authorized the funding to pay the buyouts.

Governor JB Pritzker warning employees that it requires the way of many legal rights.

Some see the offer is more like U.S. threat because it warns furloughs could be coming for a substantial number of federal employees and that employees will be subjected to enhanced standards of suitability and And of course, you know, Chicago Snow, Washington, D.C., How big a deal is this year?

Well, it's a pretty big deal because you have, according to the Federal Reserve, 82,000 employees are employed by the federal government where Illinois residents and that does make it the state's second largest employer.

Now, not all of these are eligible for that buyout officer.

Mail carriers, for instance, are exempt.

But the Chicago area has federal employees that work for Social Security offices, Veterans Affairs.

So on the SEC, the Department of Labor, some are USDA inspectors there.

Prosecutors at the U.S. attorney's office.

all wondering about their fate in many workers were hesitant to speak with me for fear of retribution.

I did talk to somebody who did not want to be named about how unnerving it is.

They say they're getting e-mails at 02:00AM encouraging them to quit in.

This worker says they're planning to stick it out, but admits that not all co-workers may be able to do that.

Now, by the way, Brandis the attorney general has filed a court brief, a friend of the court brief that is in support of the unions, efforts to put a restraining order on this buyout.

That today, though, Attorney General Raul following yet another lawsuit against the Trump administration.

This one seeking to prevent funding halts that would pay for university and medical research.

You while a lot of concerned and and nervous employees.

I'm sure.

Amanda,