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Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration's Workforce Cuts

Judge Susan Illston ruled that large-scale federal layoffs and reorganizations require congressional authorization, pausing actions across 21 agencies for two weeks.

People attend a rally in support of federal workers outside the 26 Federal Plaza, a federal office building in New York City, U.S., March 25, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
People hold signs as they gather for a "Save the Civil Service" rally hosted by a federal employee union outside the US Capitol on February 11 in Washington, DC.
Demonstrators gather outside of the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C. on February 7, 2025 to protest federal layoffs and demand the termination of Elon Musk from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). A federal judge on May 9. 2025 called for a two-week pause in the Trump administration’s mass layoff plans.
US President Donald Trump during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Steve Witkoff, US special envoy to the Middle East, is pushing for progress on a deal for Hamas to release the remaining hostages before the end of President Donald Trump’s tour of the Middle East, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, a move that would break more than two months of deadlock. Photographer: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Overview

  • Judge Susan Illston issued a temporary restraining order halting the implementation of President Trump's February executive order to downsize the federal workforce.
  • The order affects 21 federal agencies, including Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency, blocking further layoffs and reorganization efforts.
  • The ruling emphasizes that extensive workforce reductions must comply with the law and involve congressional cooperation, citing limitations on executive authority.
  • The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of labor unions, cities, and nonprofits, challenging the administration's authority to enact such sweeping changes unilaterally.
  • Further arguments in the case are scheduled for May 22, as the administration prepares to defend its downsizing initiative.