Federal Judge Permits Trump Administration to Proceed with Federal Worker Layoffs
The lawsuit was initiated by federal unions aimed at safeguarding union dues and bargaining authority.
WASHINGTON—On February 20, a federal judge chose not to halt, for the time being, the downsizing initiatives by President Donald Trump’s administration, which include extensive layoffs and buyout programs.
Unions representing numerous federal employees had filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and the leaders of several government agencies, claiming they were overstepping the powers of the executive branch.
The unions contended that the government was conducting “mass firings” of newer employees who were still in their “probationary” period.
“The assertion is not without supporting evidence,” Cooper remarked.
Nonetheless, the court rejected the unions’ plea to prevent the layoffs, asserting that it “probably lacks” jurisdiction over their allegations.
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The allegations need to be taken up with the Federal Labor Relations Authority, which is responsible for handling wrongful termination claims and employee matters, according to the judge.
During a hearing on February 18, an attorney representing the unions argued that reducing the federal workforce would result in “irreparable harm” due to the loss of union dues and bargaining power.
In the hearing, the judge, the plaintiffs, and the defense acknowledged that the case constitutes an employer–employee issue, which typically would be resolved through agencies like the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
The plaintiffs’ attorney mentioned that because the situation could impact thousands of employees, submitting numerous individual complaints would be impractical.
She highlighted that such disputes could drag on for months or years before resolution, with unions losing membership revenue during periods of unemployment, even if reinstatement occurs.
Cooper noted that the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) estimated that terminating all “nonessential employees” at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Health and Human Services would lead to a $15 million revenue loss for the union.
The plaintiffs requested the court to rule that the federal buyout program was unlawful and to prevent the administration from executing any similar initiatives.
This buyout, or deferred resignation offer, which concluded on February 12, was presented to over 2 million government employees by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as part of Trump’s strategy to decrease the federal workforce.
Through the initiative, known as “Fork in the Road,” OPM offered employees full pay and benefits until September 30 in return for voluntary resignation, cautioning that “most federal agencies are likely to undergo downsizing through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force.”
This program was also the subject of legal action, leading U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to extend the timeframe for employees to decide whether to accept the offer.
In that case too, the judge chose not to entirely block the buyout offer, believing the court lacked jurisdiction over the issue.
