Judge rules Trump administration can move ahead on mass government layoffs

A federal judge Thursday refused a group of government employee unions’ request to block the Trump administration from moving ahead with plans to dramatically reduce the federal workforce.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that federal law mandates the unions bring their challenge before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), which adjudicates labor relations within the federal bureaucracy, rather than a federal district court.

The decision notches another victory for Trump’s Justice Department, which is defending against dozens of lawsuits challenging a broad range of the president’s executive actions, including the administration’s efforts to slash spending and reshape government agencies.

“The first month of President Trump’s second administration has been defined by an onslaught of executive actions that have caused, some say by design, disruption and even chaos in widespread quarters of American society,” wrote Cooper, an appointee of former President Obama.

“Affected citizens and their advocates have challenged many of these actions on an emergency basis in this Court and others across the country,” he continued. “Certain of the President’s actions have been temporarily halted; others have been permitted to proceed, at least for the time being. These mixed results should surprise no one.”

The unions’ lawsuit challenged mass terminations of probationary employees, the administration’s plans for additional mass layoffs, known as a reduction in force (RIF), and its offer for most federal employees to accept a buyout.

Another federal judge previously rejected an attempt to block the buyouts in a separate lawsuit, but litigation against the probationary employee firings remains ongoing after a coalition of unions filed yet another lawsuit Thursday.

The case at hand was brought by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the National Federation of Federal Employees, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers and United Auto Workers.

The unions argued that the administration’s plans violates the separation of powers and regulations for how the federal government can carry out RIFs.

Cooper took no position on those issues, instead ruling that the unions brought their challenge in the wrong forum.

“The Court acknowledges that district court review of these sweeping executive actions may be more expedient. But NTEU provides no reason why it could not seek relief from the FLRA on behalf of a class of plaintiffs and admits that it would ask other agencies to follow an administrative judge’s ruling in its favor,” Cooper wrote.

Trump fired the FLRA’s Democratic-appointed chair, Susan Grundmann, earlier this month, but she is fighting her termination in court

Updated 5:30 p.m.

Topics

Trump administration can continue mass firings of federal workers, judge rules

US judge rejects bid by group of labor unions to halt president’s government overhaul through Musk-led ‘Doge’. The Trump administration can for now continue its mass firings of federal employees, ...
The Guardian - 22h
Details on judge's allowance of government layoffs

A federal judge has refused to stop President Trump's mass firings, saying unions representing those workers have to take their claims to the Federal Labor Relations Authority. CBS News senior ...
CBS News - 6h
Judge allows Trump's government workforce cuts to continue

A federal judge will allow the Trump administration's cuts to the government workforce to continue after declining a request from labor unions for relief. The judge says he lacks jurisdiction and ...
CBS News - 7h
Trump Claims Power to Fire Administrative Law Judges at Will

The Justice Department said a law protecting the officials from arbitrary removal is an unconstitutional intrusion on presidential authority.
The New York Times - 17h
US politics briefing: Trump administration warns Kyiv and picks up court win in mass firings case

From the Trump administration’s latest moves abroad and in the US – here are the key US politics stories from Thursday at a glance. Thursday saw a judge rule that the Trump administration can ...
The Guardian - 18h
Trump administration hasn't complied with order to halt foreign aid freeze, judge says

The Trump administration has not fully complied with a court order pausing the freezing of foreign assistance grants and contracts, a federal judge ruled.
NBC News - 19h
What Do the Mass IRS Layoffs Mean for Your Business Tax Filings?

The IRS just laid off at least 6,000 employees, which could lead to slower processing times–or lax enforcement.
Inc. - 10h
NYC Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case will continue for now, judge rules

A federal judge will not immediately drop the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and has appointed outside attorney Paul Clement to argue before the court. CBS News' Jake ...
CBS News - 48m
Sifu Movie Moving Ahead At Netflix With John Wick Veteran

A movie based on the video game Sifu was first revealed back in 2022 , and now it's gathering steam. It was confirmed today that Netflix has signed the movie, which is based on the Slocap game and ...
GameSpot - 1d
Request to block mass firing of probationary employees denied by judge

A judge has denied labor unions' request to temporarily block the administration from carrying out mass firing of probationary employees and deferred resignation offers.
ABC News - 8h