The Trump administration has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to lift a federal court order halting sweeping staffing cuts and restructuring efforts across federal agencies.
This move follows a May 9 ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco, which temporarily blocked the administration’s plans for large-scale “reductions in force.”
In its emergency filing, the Justice Department argued that Illston’s decision oversteps legal bounds, stating it “bars almost the entire executive branch from formulating and implementing plans to reduce the size of the federal workforce.”
The administration further claimed the ruling infringes on executive privilege by demanding disclosure of sensitive internal agency documents.
Judge Illston ruled that President Trump had exceeded his constitutional authority, emphasizing that “the president may broadly restructure federal agencies only when authorized by Congress.”
The layoffs were part of a directive issued in February, ordering agencies to prepare for immediate personnel reductions as part of a broader effort to reshape government operations — a signature theme of Trump’s second term in office.
This is one of several legal battles the Trump administration is currently waging in the Supreme Court, including cases tied to birthright citizenship and the limits of presidential authority in executive actions.
