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3d ago

Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Relief to Resume Federal Workforce Cuts

The administration's emergency appeal challenges a judge's order halting mass layoffs at 21 agencies, with implications for executive authority and federal labor rights.

Federal workers shout chants during a rally across the street from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters, in support of the civil service in the wake of mass firings, and organized by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. March 15, 2025. REUTERS/Chase Castor/File Photo
The Supreme Court is seen at dusk on January 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump raises his fist after arriving on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2025, following a trip to the Middle East.
Denise Davis, a retired federal employee and NTEU union member, looks on as her great grandsons' Deondre and Montrell Griffin hold a sign during a rally across the street from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters, in support of the civil service in the wake of mass firings, and organized by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. March 15, 2025. REUTERS/Chase Castor/File Photo

Overview

  • The Trump administration has filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court to lift a nationwide injunction issued by Judge Susan Illston, which blocks mass layoffs at 21 federal agencies.
  • Judge Illston's temporary restraining order, issued on May 9, halts reductions in force (RIFs) stemming from Trump's February executive order and requires the government to produce documents on its downsizing plans.
  • The administration argues the order disrupts governance, retains an inefficient workforce, and oversteps judicial authority, while plaintiffs cite service disruptions and legal violations in their challenge.
  • The Ninth Circuit's timeline for reviewing the administration's appeal extends beyond the TRO's expiration, prompting the administration to seek immediate Supreme Court intervention.
  • In a separate case, the D.C. Circuit Court has lifted an injunction blocking Trump's executive order limiting collective bargaining rights for many federal employees, affecting union protections for thousands of workers.