Workers at energy and environmental agencies are uncertain about their fates after a federal judge Friday threw the latest wrench into the Trump administration’s government-slashing plans.
Government employees — including some who have already received layoff notices — are confused and waiting for more details about their employment status this week after a judge moved Friday to temporarily stall President Donald Trump’s plans to dramatically slash the federal workforce. Workers and employee unions are also eagerly awaiting details about the administration’s layoff plans, which the judge ordered agencies to produce by Tuesday, although the administration is fighting that requirement.
The court order issued Friday pauses the administration’s layoff plans at environmental agencies and other departments, handing a win to employee unions, environmentalists and others whose lawsuit accused the administration of attempting an “unconstitutional dismantling of the federal government.”
Federal employees and Trump’s critics Monday hailed the court’s order as a promising early victory in the high-stakes legal battle. The lawsuit contends the president is violating the “Constitution’s fundamental separation of powers principles” by sidestepping Congress as he pursues “large-scale” layoffs and agency reorganizations.
