Judge orders temporary halt to Trump’s mass layoffs of federal workers

The Washington Post ^ | May 10, 2025 2:48 AM EDt | Frances Vinall

[E. Pluribus Unum]

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to halt mass layoffs of federal workers for at least two weeks in a temporary restraining order issued Friday.

A coalition of local governments, nonprofit organizations and labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, filed a lawsuit last month challenging an executive order issued Feb. 11 that instructed federal agency heads to prepare large-scale reductions in workforce.

The AFGE-led coalition had argued that the president does not have the power to make that order. Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said in her ruling that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on at least some of their claims and issued the temporary restraining order to stop layoffs as the case proceeds.

“To make large-scale overhauls of federal agencies, any president must enlist the help of his co-equal branch and partner, the Congress,” she wrote.

She added that the president does not have “constitutional nor, at this time, statutory authority to reorganize the executive branch.”

Attorneys for the Trump administration filed an appeal of the temporary restraining order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, court records show.

At least 24,000 federal probationary employees have already been fired as part of the Trump administration’s push to shrink the government, according to court filings. The legality of those layoffs is separately undergoing challenge in the courts.

The AFGE-led coalition described its lawsuit as “the largest and most significant challenge to Trump’s authority to remake the government” without Congress’s approval, The Washington Post reported.

[HYPOCRACY]

She added that the president does not have “constitutional nor, at this time, statutory authority to reorganize the executive branch.”

So the executive doesn’t have the authority to reorganize the executive branch but some low-level, lowlife, unelected scumbag judge does?

[frank ballenger]

Who thinks they are higher than the American people, Congress, the Executive Branch and God?

Judges.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

If only we could get Roberts away from diddling toddlers for a few minutes …

[maro]

What does it mean to reorganize? That’s the problem with her argument. There is no place for it to stop.

[MtnClimber]

That judge should pick up their salary.

[TexasFreeper2009]

funny that the legislative and judical branches seem to be able to reorganize themselves at will!

[Zathras]

Just 3000 miles out of her jurisdiction.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Can we have just ONE DAY where we don’t read “Judge orders Trump to...”?

[Bob Wills is still the king]

“She added that the president does not have “constitutional nor, at this time, statutory authority to reorganize the executive branch.”

So the executive doesn’t have the authority to reorganize the executive branch but some low-level, lowlife, unelected scumbag judge does?”
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For as long as the USA has been a nation, and even before that in the English Common Law that is the foundation of our Constitution and legal system, judges have been empowered and expected to call balls and strikes. Without a Constitutional amendment or change to existing law, this judge remains correct.

[Bob Wills is still the king]

“Who thinks they are higher than the American people, Congress, the Executive Branch and God?

Judges.”
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Our Constitution and history make judges co-equals to Congress and the Executive in two of the three comparisons you made. If that weren’t the case, a president could do things like issue EO’s to confiscate guns, gold, etc.

[HYPOCRACY]

Ok idiot.

[Godzilla]

The AFGE-led coalition described its lawsuit as “the largest and most significant challenge to Trump’s authority to remake the government” without Congress’s approval, The Washington Post reported.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall

[ConservativeMind]

This judge is not correct. She is not using the Constitution or prior interpretations, either.

The Law does not need to be changed. The judge needs to be thrown out, along with her very wrong opinion.

[Luke21]

You mean “A federal judge temporarily...” They have it on cut and paste. We re-elected Biden.

[Bob Wills is still the king]

Ok idiot.
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The TOS and site rules prohibit calling posters names or getting into feuds.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

We will see how long “temporarily” lasts, won’t we?

[HYPOCRACY]

STFU. Show me in the constitution where a lower court created by congress has the authority to tell the executive how to reorganize his branch of the government.

Idiot isn’t a name it’s a descriptor. Go cry to someone who gives a crap loser.

[Mark]

Sounds like Insurrection. Treat them like J6 and incarcerate them for a few years BEFORE the trials even begin.

[Rinnwald]

If that weren’t the case, a president could do things like issue EO’s to confiscate guns, gold, etc.

Like FDR's Executive Order 6102 confiscating gold?

I get it. You're just indulging in a bit of satire.

Nice.