Supreme Court Asked to Weigh In on Federal Workforce Downsizing Plans
In a decisive move, President Donald Trump’s administration has renewed its request for the Supreme Court to allow significant downsizing of the federal workforce, as a lawsuit from labor unions and cities continues to unfold. This appeal follows a ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the planned cuts could negatively impact vital services, notably food safety and veterans’ healthcare.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston’s previous order halted the proposed cuts, asserting that the Trump administration lacked congressional approval for such substantial reductions. In the latest filing, Solicitor General D. John Sauer criticized the ruling, asserting that the president should have inherent authority over internal personnel decisions within the executive branch.
The administration’s fight to alter the federal workforce has drawn attention, especially after the involvement of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who was appointed to head the initiative through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), though he stepped down last week. Reports indicate that tens of thousands of federal workers have been terminated or have left voluntarily, with estimates suggesting at least 75,000 employees opted for deferred resignations.
Illston’s order prohibits various federal agencies, such as those within Agriculture, Labor, and Veterans Affairs, from implementing Trump’s workforce executive order and subsequent directives. The Supreme Court has set a deadline for responses from involved parties, including major cities like Chicago and San Francisco, by next Monday.
Labor unions and nonprofit groups are also challenging the government in a separate case related to mass firings of probationary workers, with outcomes remaining uncertain after a previous Supreme Court intervention blocked a lower court’s reinstatement order.
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