A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s efforts to carry out mass layoffs across several government agencies, citing the likely need for congressional approval before such sweeping changes can proceed.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in California issued a two-week restraining order, stating that Trump’s plan to significantly downsize the federal workforce likely oversteps executive authority. “The Court finds that the President likely must seek Congressional cooperation to implement the reductions he proposes,” Illston wrote.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has pushed for deep cuts to the federal workforce as part of a broader initiative to shrink government operations, led by the Elon Musk-chaired Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). A February 11 executive order called for a “critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy,” directing agencies to dismiss employees not deemed essential.
The executive action triggered a lawsuit from a coalition of labor unions, advocacy organizations, and six local governments, who argue that the administration acted beyond its legal powers by initiating layoffs without congressional authorization. The lawsuit names Trump, DOGE, and agencies including the Office of Management and Budget as defendants.
In a joint statement, the plaintiffs — led by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) — welcomed the judge’s decision. “This unlawful attempt to reorganize the federal government has thrown essential services into disarray,” they said. “We represent communities that depend on efficient federal operations — mass layoffs and disorganized restructuring don’t achieve that.”
Trump’s administration has moved aggressively to eliminate federal jobs and slash funding to programs such as USAID, diversity initiatives, and other offices. However, courts have blocked or delayed several of his major policy moves, including those related to immigration and federal budget reallocation.
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