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Judge Halts Trump’s Mass Layoff Plan over Lack of Congressional Approval

Legal

Business Honor
13 May, 2025

Court blocks 14-day cuts, citing legal overreach and risk to public services.

A U.S. federal judge has directed the Trump administration to temporarily halt its plan to conduct mass layoffs and reorganize a number of government agencies. The ruling was issued by District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco on Friday, after a lawsuit by unions, nonprofits, and local governments.

The judge said that President Donald Trump is not allowed to slash large-scale staffing without the authorization of Congress. She noted that any fundamental restructuring of federal agencies must be supported by legal sanction provided by lawmakers.

This ruling imposes a 14-day hold on the layoff plan of the administration, part of a larger endeavor to slash spending and raise efficiency within government. These plans have been formulated in collaboration with Elon Musk, chief executive officer at Tesla, who has headed a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) drive.

The critics argue the plan has caused federal agencies confusion and interrupted essential public services. The plaintiffs argued in their lawsuit that the actions of the administration exceeded its power and violated administrative laws. The plaintiffs also maintained that workers and communities would be severely affected if the court did not intervene.

Judge Illston supported these grievances, adding that the plaintiffs have a high likelihood of prevailing with portions of their case. She said that the agencies, such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, had almost all their employees laid off, including crucial departments that serve mine workers, young children, and farmers.

The judge set a subsequent hearing for May 22 to determine whether the temporary order could be extended. The ruling for the time being bars future firings and maintains the existing government agency structure while the case remains in court.