By Tim Reid WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of U.S. government workers have chosen to resign rather than endure what many view as a torturous wait for the Trump administration to carry out its threats to fire them,

A federal judge’s order had barred dozens of federal agencies from moving ahead with the largest phase of President Trump’s efforts to downsize the government.

It’s the second time the administration has sought emergency intervention from the high court in its bid to downsize the federal bureaucracy.