Overview
- A coalition of over two dozen unions, cities, counties, and nonprofits filed a federal lawsuit on April 28, claiming President Trump’s executive order on federal workforce cuts exceeds his constitutional authority.
- The lawsuit targets the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has overseen mass layoffs and reorganization plans across federal agencies since February.
- Plaintiffs argue that the cuts endanger critical services, including Social Security, emergency management, environmental protection, and public health programs, especially in regions like Harris County, Texas, ahead of hurricane season.
- The Trump administration defends the cuts as necessary to eliminate government waste, with DOGE projecting $150 billion in savings this year, though far short of its initial $1 trillion target.
- The Supreme Court recently blocked a lower court’s order to rehire 16,000 probationary employees, while the new lawsuit seeks to halt further layoffs and reverse unconstitutional workforce reductions.