Court Steps In Over Potentially Improper Terminations
A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered a temporary halt to the Trump administration’s plan to lay off more than 4,100 government employees during the ongoing shutdown. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the proposed workforce reductions may have been politically motivated and did not comply with required legal procedures. Agencies impacted include Commerce, Education, Energy, EPA, HHS, HUD, Homeland Security, and Treasury.
Unions Challenge the Layoff Plans
Labor organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and AFSCME, have filed a lawsuit contending that the administration’s layoff strategy violates the Antideficiency Act. The unions argue that the terminations improperly obligate federal funds without appropriations and appear to serve political objectives rather than operational needs.
Administration Maintains Necessity of Cuts
White House Budget Director Russell Vought defended the layoffs, asserting they are intended to reduce bureaucracy and refocus resources on priority programs. He indicated that the total number of federal workers affected could ultimately surpass 10,000. The court has required the administration to provide detailed information on the layoffs within two days, with the temporary restraining order remaining in effect as legal proceedings continue.
