Temporary injunction issued by judge against mass terminations initiated by Donald Trump
Donald Trump's Mass Firings of Federal Workers Temporarily Halts
In a surprising turn of events, Judge Susan Illston of California's district court has temporarily paused the federal administration from implementing mass layoffs of employees ordered by President Donald Trump in February. The freeze is set to last for two weeks.
According to Judge Illston's order, issued on Friday, such actions are likely to require approval from Congress. She stated, "The President must likely seek the cooperation of Congress to orchestrate the changes he desires, and therefore, a temporary restraining order is issued to momentarily prohibit widespread staff reductions during this period."
Trump's return to the White House in January prompted the Presidential Commission on Government Efficiency (PCGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, to direct federal agencies to prepare for significant personnel reductions. This move was part of Trump's endeavor to streamline the federal administration's workforce.
In his February 11 executive order, Trump called for a comprehensive overhaul of the federal bureaucracy and mandated agencies to dismiss employees deemed non-essential.
Last week, a group consisting of federal unions, non-profit organizations, six cities, and counties sued Trump, the PCGE, and several federal agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), overstepping their authority by implementing mass layoffs without Congressional approval.
In a joint statement, the plaintiffs, led by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), celebrated the temporary freeze ordered by Judge Illston, stating, "The illegal attempts by the Trump administration to reshape the federal government have thrown agencies into disarray, disrupting crucial services across the nation."
Trump's aggressive approach this year has resulted in his swift attempt to dismiss thousands of government employees and eliminate programs such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), diversity initiatives, and various other offices.
While Trump has made progress in some areas, like immigration and public spending reductions, judges have hindered or delayed his initiatives in certain instances.
[1] Marson, N. (2025, May 8). Temporary block prevents mass federal layoffs. Roll Call. Retrieved from https://www.rollcall.com/2025/05/08/temporary-block-prevents-mass-federal-layoffs/
[2] Weissmann, J. (2025, May 8). Trump's mass layoffs order temporarily halted by federal judge. Vox. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2025/5/8/23042020/trump-mass-layoffs-federal-workers-court-california
- The temporary halt on mass layoffs of federal workers, ordered by President Donald Trump in February, was delayed due to a pending policy-and-legislation matter, with Judge Susan Illston stating that such actions may require approval from Congress.
- In the midst of heated politics surrounding immigration and general news, the ongoing controversy over Trump's mass layoffs of federal workers takes a temporary turn, as a federal judge's decision to issue a temporary restraining order halted the staff reductions, pending further legislative approval.
