On June 2, the Trump administration formally requested the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in a legal dispute concerning mass job cuts and agency restructuring. This appeal follows a judicial order that blocks large-scale layoffs within the federal government, a critical aspect of President Trump’s initiative to downsize and reshape the federal government. The administration's request was filed by the Justice Department after U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, based in San Francisco, ruled in favor of several unions, non-profit organizations, and local governments that challenged the administration’s plans.
The legal case involves multiple federal departments, including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, State, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. The Justice Department argued that the authority to manage federal agency personnel is a fundamental aspect of the president's executive powers. In their filing, they emphasized that the Constitution does not inherently restrict presidential control over agency staffing. Furthermore, they asserted that the president does not require special permission from Congress to exercise the powers granted under Article II of the Constitution.
Following the administration's appeal, the Supreme Court has requested a response from the plaintiffs by June 9. Previously, in February, President Trump directed federal agencies to prepare for significant layoffs as part of his restructuring strategy. However, Judge Illston maintained in her ruling that Trump had overstepped his authority by ordering these downsizing measures. She cited historical precedent, asserting that the president can only broadly restructure federal agencies when Congress grants such authorization.
On May 9, Judge Illston initially prohibited approximately 20 federal agencies from executing mass layoffs for a two-week period and mandated the reinstatement of employees who had already lost their jobs. This relief was largely upheld in her May 22 ruling, which further solidified the legal barriers against Trump's restructuring efforts.
On May 30, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Judge Illston's ruling by a 2-1 vote, denying the Trump administration’s request to block the judge's order. The 9th Circuit concluded that the administration failed to demonstrate any irreparable harm that would result from maintaining the judge's ruling. They also indicated that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their lawsuit, stating that the executive order at the center of this case exceeded the president’s constitutional supervisory powers.
This ongoing legal battle is part of a broader trend where the Trump administration has sought relief from the Supreme Court in response to various lower court rulings that have hindered its policies since the president took office again in January. The outcome of this case may have significant implications for the future of federal agency management and the limits of presidential authority.
Reporting by John Kruzel; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham
