A US federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary block order on the Donald Trump administration's directive instructing federal agencies to execute mass layoffs of recently hired employees, as reported by Reuters.
Court Ruling Against Mass Firings
San Francisco District Judge William Alsup ruled that the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacks the authority to enforce mass terminations, including probationary employees who generally have less than a year of experience.
The ruling comes after President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced extensive layoffs to cut administrative costs.
Revoking Official Orders
Judge Alsup directed the Office of Personnel Management to rescind a January 20 memo and a February 14 email, both of which ordered federal agencies to identify and dismiss non-mission-critical probationary employees.
Impact on Federal Services
The judge emphasized that these mass firings, which began earlier this month, would lead to severe disruptions, including:
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Cuts to national parks
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Reduced scientific research
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Limited services for veterans
Department of Defense Exemptions
Despite the ruling, the Department of Defense intends to lay off 5,400 probationary employees on Friday, as it falls outside the scope of the lawsuit filed by employee unions. However, the judge instructed the government to notify the department that its directives had been invalidated.
Union Response and Government Defense
Everett Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, condemned the mass firings, stating, "These are rank-and-file workers who joined the federal government to make a difference in their communities, only to be suddenly terminated due to this administration's disdain for federal employees and desire to privatize their work."
In contrast, the US Justice Department, representing the Trump administration, argued that the memo and email merely requested agencies to review probationary employees rather than mandating terminations.
Further Layoff Plans Underway
A White House memo issued Wednesday instructed federal agencies to submit proposals by March 13 for a significant reduction in workforce, indicating further staffing cuts could be forthcoming.
