Supreme Court Lifts Block on Trump Administration’s Federal Workforce Cuts

Supreme Court Lifts Block on Trump Administration’s Federal Workforce Cuts
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The U.S. Supreme Court on July 8 lifted a lower court’s order that had paused the Trump administration’s plans for large-scale federal staffing cuts and agency restructuring, USA Today reported. In an unsigned opinion, the justices did not rule on the legality of the proposed reorganization but found the district court erred by halting the changes during ongoing litigation.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning the decision could cause irreversible harm, while Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted the Court was not yet considering whether the cuts comply with existing laws.

The administration aims to significantly reduce federal staff across about 20 agencies, arguing that the president does not need explicit congressional approval to implement workforce reductions. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston had blocked the plan in May, citing potential disruption to essential services like Social Security. A divided Ninth Circuit panel upheld her ruling.

Opponents, including unions and local governments, say the cuts threaten public services and bypass Congress’s role. They argue reversing the layoffs later would be impossible. Attorney General Pam Bondi welcomed the ruling, saying it stops “lawless” lower courts from limiting presidential authority. The coalition challenging the cuts vowed to continue its legal fight.