by A federal judge has temporarily halted a sweeping effort by the Trump administration to implement mass layoffs and major agency reorganizations, following a controversial executive order signed in February.
Judge Susan Illston Steps In
Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, based in San Francisco, issued a temporary restraining order Friday evening, preventing the federal government from executing the Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans (ARRPs). These plans aimed to downsize or entirely eliminate several key federal agencies.
The decision was a response to a legal challenge brought by federal worker unions, local governments, and advocacy organizations who argued the cuts violated federal law and bypassed Congress.
DOGE’s Role Under Fire
The judge’s ruling also pauses any directives issued by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — an initiative led by tech billionaire Elon Musk — that would implement layoffs or program cuts tied to Trump’s executive order.
Plaintiffs accused DOGE of operating “largely in secret” and concealing critical information from workers, unions, Congress, and the public. Court documents revealed that agencies were ordered to submit reorganization plans in two phases, with final approval coming from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Sweeping Legal Blow to Trump Administration
The restraining order is one of the most significant legal setbacks to date for Trump’s effort to drastically reduce the federal workforce. The administration had been actively pursuing Reductions in Force (RIFs) that would affect tens of thousands of government employees and shutter entire departments.
Judge Illston emphasized that while presidents have authority to manage federal agencies, major reorganizations must involve Congress. “No statute gives OPM, OMB, or DOGE the authority to direct other federal agencies to engage in large-scale terminations or restructurings,” she wrote in her 42-page opinion.
Agencies Affected
The temporary order applies to proposed cuts across more than a dozen federal departments, including:
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Energy
- Department of Labor
- Department of the Treasury
- Department of State
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Next Legal Steps
The administration has until Tuesday to turn over its internal reduction plans and report to the court on how it will comply with the ruling.
Although the Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to appeal the decision, the judge denied an immediate procedural motion to fast-track that process.
DOJ attorney Eric Hamilton claimed the lawsuit was filed too late and that the plans were part of an internal process, not subject to judicial review. Plaintiff attorney Danielle Leonard responded by accusing the administration of deliberately withholding information and evading accountability.
Reaction from the Plaintiffs
Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, welcomed the court’s decision. “With every move this President is making, we are holding him accountable in court,” she said. “Judges of all stripes are recognizing and defending the rule of law.”
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment, but no response has been given as of publication.
