A federal judge in California, Susan Illston, issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, halting the Trump administration’s plans for workforce reductions and reorganizations across 21 federal departments and agencies. This ruling marks a significant hurdle for the administration’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce through its “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative.
Judge Illston asserted that while the President possesses the authority to modify executive branch agencies, he must do so lawfully and with Congressional cooperation, particularly for large-scale changes. She emphasized that the executive agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), lack the statutory authority to direct such significant layoffs or restructuring without legislative approval.
The temporary order, effective for two weeks, impacts several federal agencies, including the OMB, OPM, and departments such as Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and Transportation. Despite thousands of federal employees already being affected by reductions since January, the Trump administration has not disclosed specific numbers of those terminated.
In defending the lawsuit, the coalition of non-profits, unions, and local governments argued that the administration’s attempts to reorganize federal services critically undermine efficiency and disrupt essential functions nationwide. They applauded the court’s ruling as a necessary pause against what they deem an unlawful initiative.
The Trump administration contended that the lawsuit was untimely, arguing that such legal challenges should arise immediately following executive orders. Judge Illston countered this assertion, stating that the plaintiffs had reasonably waited to understand the implications of the executive order before filing.
A further hearing is scheduled for May 22, while the White House has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the ruling.
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