The Trump administration has appealed a federal judge’s ruling that blocked mass layoffs across federal agencies, a move seen as central to the former president’s efforts to streamline government operations. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston had issued the order on Thursday, stating that President Trump required Congressional approval for large-scale agency reorganizations. The administration filed its appeal with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, arguing that the ruling misinterprets the constitutional separation of powers.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields called the decision "extreme judicial overreach," asserting that Congress had previously granted the executive branch authority to implement reductions in force, a practice dating back nearly 150 years.
The court’s decision marks another legal setback for Trump’s initiative—driven alongside adviser Elon Musk—to downsize or eliminate agencies, ease the dismissal of federal workers, and limit union rights. On May 9, Judge Illston temporarily blocked 20 federal agencies from conducting mass layoffs and ordered the reinstatement of dismissed employees. Her new ruling largely extends that order.
Government attorney Andrew Bernie argued that Trump's executive order simply requested agencies to explore possible cuts, not implement them immediately. However, plaintiffs' attorney Danielle Leonard contended that directives from the White House had effectively predetermined agency actions.
The lawsuit includes multiple agencies such as Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and the Treasury Department. Approximately 260,000 federal workers have already exited or are set to leave by the end of September, with agencies like the VA and HHS facing major job reductions.
Illston, a Clinton appointee, emphasized that while the president can propose agency reforms, significant reorganizations require legislative cooperation. The administration has withdrawn a separate Supreme Court appeal in light of this latest ruling.