Federal Court Rules White House Overstepped Authority
California, USA – A federal judge in California has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to implement mass firings of federal employees across various agencies, ruling that the White House lacks the authority to issue such directives.
US District Judge William Alsup, presiding in San Francisco, stated that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) did not have the power to mandate federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to terminate probationary employees. Probationary workers, typically those with less than a year of experience, were the primary targets of these firings.
Trump and Musk’s Push for Government Downsizing
The move to reduce federal employment aligns with Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda to significantly downsize the government. Partnering with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who oversees the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, the administration aims to slash $1 trillion from the nation’s $6.7 trillion budget.
This aggressive cost-cutting strategy has faced strong opposition from Democratic leaders, labor unions, and federal employees, who argue that the job cuts are unlawful and could critically impair essential government services.
Impact on Federal Agencies and Critical Services
Already, the administration has been forced to recall some essential personnel, and tensions are rising within federal agencies. On Thursday, hundreds of probationary employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a leading climate science agency, were informed of their termination, according to sources familiar with the situation. NOAA officials have yet to comment.
At the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the head of the Transformation and Strategy Office, which employs 60 staff members focused on modernization, cautioned that the entire division could be dismantled. David Padrino, the office’s chief, has reportedly announced his resignation effective next Friday, as IRS executives brace for substantial layoffs.
Additionally, at least two dozen OPM employees working remotely have been ordered to relocate to Washington, D.C., by March 7 or face termination.
Judge Halts Firings Amid Concerns Over ‘Widespread Harm’
In his ruling, Judge Alsup instructed OPM to rescind a January 20 memo and a February 14 email directing agencies to identify and terminate non-mission-critical probationary employees. While Alsup acknowledged he could not directly block the Department of Defense’s planned firing of 5,400 employees set for Friday, he emphasized that the mass layoffs could lead to significant disruptions in public services, including national parks, scientific research, and veterans’ assistance programs.
“Probationary employees are the lifeblood of our government. They enter at a low level and work their way up. That’s how we renew ourselves,” Alsup, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, remarked.
The White House and the US Department of Justice have yet to issue statements in response to the ruling.
Unions and Advocacy Groups Take Legal Action
The lawsuit challenging the firings was brought by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, along with four other unions and nonprofit organizations advocating for veterans’ services and national park conservation.
The Trump administration contends that the OPM directives were merely requests for agencies to evaluate their probationary workforce rather than mandatory orders. However, during the hearing, Justice Department attorney Kelsey Helland argued that the language used in the memos strongly suggested otherwise.
Judge Alsup dismissed the administration’s argument, asserting that it was improbable for nearly every federal agency to have independently decided to implement massive layoffs without external pressure.
Next Steps: Court Proceedings and Future Workforce Cuts
Alsup ordered OPM to notify the Department of Defense and other affected agencies, including the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, that the memos regarding terminations are invalid.
The ruling serves as a temporary block while the court considers the broader legal challenge, which argues that OPM exceeded its authority by issuing employment directives that bypass standard administrative procedures.
Despite this legal setback, the Trump administration is continuing its efforts to reshape the federal workforce. A White House memo issued Wednesday instructs agencies to submit plans by March 13 detailing significant workforce reductions. Unions have filed multiple lawsuits contesting these actions, but procedural hurdles have complicated legal efforts.
As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of thousands of federal employees remains uncertain, with further job cuts anticipated in the coming weeks.