A federal judge ruled on Thursday that US President Donald Trump’s administration can continue firing government employees. As a result, the court denied labor unions’ request to stop the layoffs. This decision directly impacts the 2.3 million-strong federal workforce.
Judge Cites Lack of Jurisdiction
In his ruling, US District Judge Christopher Cooper explained that he lacked jurisdiction over the case. Therefore, he instructed unions to challenge the layoffs through the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.
“Federal district judges are duty-bound to decide legal issues based on the even-handed application of law and precedent — no matter the identity of the litigants or, regrettably at times, the consequences of their rulings for average people,” he wrote.
Unions Fight Back
Meanwhile, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and four other unions sued the Trump administration. They argue that the mass layoffs misuse probationary periods and serve political interests.
New Department Leads Workforce Reduction
Since Trump took office, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has cut thousands of jobs. In addition, it has shut down several federal programs. To accelerate the process, Trump ordered federal agencies to work with Doge to identify more employees for layoffs.
Elon Musk Leads Downsizing Effort
Furthermore, Trump appointed Tesla CEO Elon Musk to lead Doge. His role focuses on streamlining government operations and improving efficiency.
