Federal Judges Uphold Trump Administration’s Plan to Cut Government Spending
Two federal judges have rejected requests to halt the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce government spending and lay off federal workers. This decision allows the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to continue with its mission of identifying and eliminating wasteful spending in the government.
In a ruling on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper denied a request from several federal labor unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), to pause the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration. The NTEU and four other labor unions had filed a complaint, challenging the firing of probationary employees and a deferred resignation program.
The resignation program gave federal employees a choice: either return to their offices or resign from their positions and continue to receive pay until September. The deadline for making this decision was initially set for February 6, but it was later extended to February 12 and closed on that day.
Unions’ Legal Battle
The unions sought a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and preliminary injunction to stop the firing of probationary employees across all federal agencies and to halt the implementation of the resignation program. However, Judge Cooper ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over the unions’ claims and directed them to pursue their challenges through the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.
States’ Request to Prevent Access to Data Systems
In a separate case, 14 states asked U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to issue a TRO preventing Elon Musk and DOGE from accessing data systems at various government departments. The plaintiffs also requested that Musk and DOGE be prohibited from terminating or furloughing federal officers or employees in those agencies.
Judge Chutkan acknowledged the uncertainty and confusion caused by DOGE’s actions and ruled in favor of allowing DOGE to continue its operations without any immediate restrictions.
Next Steps
Judge Chutkan has set a briefing schedule for plaintiffs and defendants to file motions for discovery, preliminary injunctions, and dismissals, which is expected to continue until April 22.
With these rulings, the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce government spending and streamline operations can proceed as planned. The decisions have significant implications for federal employees and labor unions, who will need to navigate the administrative review process and seek alternative avenues to challenge the changes being implemented.
