WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Washington has ruled to allow President Donald Trump’s significant cuts to the federal workforce to proceed.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper determined that he could not issue an emergency stay requested by unions representing affected workers. He concluded that their claims constituted an employment dispute, requiring adherence to existing federal employment protocols.
Cooper noted that Trump’s second term has been characterized by a series of executive actions leading to widespread disruption within various sectors of American society.
Despite his personal views, Cooper emphasized that judges are obligated to rule based on the law, regardless of the political implications or impact on the workforce.
This decision comes as thousands of federal employees face layoffs during the early weeks of Trump’s second administration.
In court, the administration argued that the unions did not demonstrate the immediate, irreparable harm necessary to justify halting the layoffs.
The unions, representing a vast number of federal employees, argue that Trump’s approach to reducing the workforce violates Congressional authority to govern agency size and funding, as well as legal stipulations related to layoffs.
Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees’ Union, described Cooper’s ruling as a temporary setback, asserting that federal workers will ultimately have the opportunity to contest the legality of the mass firings and their implications on public service.
This lawsuit is one of over 80 legal actions contesting various executive orders issued by Trump. Additionally, unions have initiated a separate lawsuit against similar mass firings occurring in California this week.
