A US judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from proceeding with mass layoffs of government workers, citing the need for Congressional approval. US District Court Judge Susan Illston of California ordered a two-week pause on Friday, May 9, 2025, stating that the Trump administration’s moves to slash the federal workforce likely exceeded its authority.
Background
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has directed federal agencies to prepare sweeping workforce reduction plans as part of wider efforts by the Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to downsize the federal government. In a February 11 executive order, Trump called for a “critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy” and directed agencies to cull workers who are not designated essential.
Judge’s Ruling
“The Court holds the President likely must request Congressional cooperation to order the changes he seeks, and thus issues a temporary restraining order to pause large-scale reductions in force in the meantime,” Illston wrote in the order. This decision was in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions, non-profit groups, and six city and county governments, arguing that the Trump administration had exceeded its authority by implementing the mass layoffs without congressional go-ahead.
Reaction from Plaintiffs
“The Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to reorganize the federal government has thrown agencies into chaos, disrupting critical services provided across our nation,” the plaintiffs, led by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said in a joint statement, hailing the judge’s temporary freeze. “Each of us represents communities deeply invested in the efficiency of the federal government — laying off federal employees and reorganizing government functions haphazardly does not achieve that,” it added.¹
Implications
This ruling is part of a broader trend of judges thwarting or holding up Trump’s administration signature policy initiatives, including on immigration and government spending. The judge has scheduled a hearing for May 22 to consider a longer-lasting preliminary injunction, which could further impact the Trump administration’s plans.²