Executive order implementation temporarily halted: judicial intervention to preserve agency funding levels under Trump's administration.
A Judge Slaps the Brakes on Trump's Mass Agency Reorg and Layoffs
Here's the scoop on what's happening:
A federal judge has put a stop to the Trump administration's plans for widespread agency restructuring and mass layoffs, following a lawsuit filed by federal employee unions, local governments, and outside organizations.
According to reports, Senior District Judge Susan Illston granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) on May 10, lasting two weeks, which blocks the administration from approving or implementing plans to conduct large-scale layoffs and eliminating entire components of agencies. The judge's order also halts any orders from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutting programs or staff in accordance with Trump's executive order.
The Unions' Fight Against DOGE's Shadowy Hand
The unions specifically targeted DOGE's role in the process, stating in court filings that the Elon Musk-led initiative was operating largely in secret, aiming to force cuts to agency spending and personnel by refusing to reveal its plans to employees, their labor representatives, the public, or Congress.
Two agencies central to DOGE's mission, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), issued a joint directive requiring agencies to submit reduction and reorganization plans in two stages, with the OMB giving final approval on layoff plans, according to court filings.
Broad-reaching Legal Setback for the Administration
Illston's order marks one of the most significant legal setbacks Trump and DOGE have faced in their efforts to drastically scale down the federal bureaucracy. Across various federal departments, the administration has been implementing restructuring plans (RIFs) that could terminate tens of thousands of employees and shutter entire agency offices, regardless of the impact on an agency's ability to meet its objectives.
The Case Ahead: Heading to the Supremes?
The case before Illston may soon make its way to the Supreme Court, as the Justice Department has expressed a desire to appeal the order quickly. However, Judge Illston has denied a DOJ attorney's request for a procedural maneuver that would make it easier for the administration to appeal her order immediately.
In a 42-page opinion, Illston said, "No statute gives OPM, OMB, or DOGE the authority to direct other federal agencies to engage in large-scale terminations, restructuring, or elimination of itself." While she will examine the lawsuit's merits in the coming weeks, Illston found it necessary to temporarily halt further implementation of these plans because they appear to stem from unlawful directives.
The order covers drastic reductions at more than a dozen agencies, including Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Labor, Treasury, State, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The administration must submit its reduction plans by Tuesday, May 14, and update the judge on its efforts to comply with the order by the same date.
In response to the decision, the challengers stated, "We are gratified by the court's decision today to pause these harmful actions while our case proceeds."
Updates added for accuracy.
- The upcoming court case, originating from the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Susan Illston, threatens to be a policy-and-legislation turning point for the Trump administration, as it aims to scrutinize the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)'s hidden strategies to curb agency spending and personnel.
- The Trump administration's efforts to terminate numerous employees and dissolve entire components of government agencies through restructuring plans (RIFs) have faced a setback, with Senior District Judge Susan Illston halting any further implementation of these restructuring plans following a lawsuit.
- The Department of Justice has expressed a desire to appeal Judge Illston's order, yet the judge has blocked a procedural maneuver that would facilitate an immediate appeal, putting the administration's policy-and-legislation agenda concerning the Department of Government Efficiency's role in agency reorganization under review.
- In her 42-page opinion, Judge Illston denied the DOGE and its associated departments, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the authority to order large-scale terminations, restructuring, or elimination of federal agencies, citing the lack of statutory basis for such actions.
