The AFGE-led coalition has successfully argued against the Trump administration's power to implement sweeping layoff orders without congressional approval. In a significant ruling, Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California stated that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail on at least some of their claims. As a result, she issued a temporary restraining order to halt layoffs while the case is under review.
Judge Illston emphasized that any president seeking to enact large-scale overhauls of federal agencies must collaborate with Congress, which she described as a co-equal branch of government. She firmly stated that the president currently lacks both constitutional and statutory authority to reorganize the executive branch without legislative support. This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle over federal workforce management.
In response to the temporary restraining order, attorneys representing the Trump administration have filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Court documents reveal that at least 24,000 federal probationary employees have already been terminated as part of the administration's initiative to reduce the size of the government. The legality of these layoffs is also being challenged separately in the courts.
The AFGE-led coalition has characterized its lawsuit as “the largest and most significant challenge to Trump’s authority to remake the government” without the necessary approval from Congress, according to a report by The Washington Post. This legal action highlights the ongoing tensions between the executive branch and legislative authority, particularly regarding workforce management.
The executive order in question, titled “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” mandated federal agencies to collaborate with the U.S. DOGE Service to initiate a “critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy” through downsizing. Judge Illston noted that work had already commenced to implement this order, with plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs across the federal bureaucracy.
In her ruling, Judge Illston remarked, “Federal courts should not micromanage the vast federal workforce,” yet acknowledged the necessity for courts to act when it comes to maintaining the proper checks and balances among the three branches of government. This ruling serves as a reminder of the judiciary's role in protecting against potential overreach by the executive branch.
