Supreme Court Allows Trump to Move Forward with Mass Federal Worker Firings

The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the path for President Donald Trump to begin implementing sweeping layoffs across federal agencies, lifting a previous block placed on his controversial workforce reduction plans.

In an unsigned order, the court overturned a May ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who had halted the planned dismissals on the basis that such action required congressional approval. The pause came after a coalition of labor unions, non-profits, and advocacy groups sued the administration, arguing it had overstepped its authority by initiating mass firings without input from Congress.

Following his return to the White House in January, Trump instructed federal agencies to develop aggressive staff reduction plans. The move formed part of a broader restructuring effort led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), then headed by billionaire Elon Musk.

In a February 11 executive order, Trump described the initiative as a “critical transformation of the Federal bureaucracy,” mandating agencies to identify and retain only those employees considered essential.

The Supreme Court’s decision noted, “The Government is likely to succeed on its argument that the Executive Order and Memorandum are lawful.” However, the justices stopped short of ruling on the legality of individual agency reorganization plans, which they said would remain subject to ongoing litigation.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a concurring opinion, emphasized that the ruling merely lifts the pause without endorsing the substance of any agency’s restructuring plan. “The plans themselves are not before this Court, at this stage,” she said. “I join the Court’s stay because it leaves the District Court free to consider those questions.”

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissenter. “For some reason, this Court sees fit to step in now and release the President’s wrecking ball at the outset of this litigation,” she wrote.

Jackson further argued, “Under our Constitution, Congress has the power to establish administrative agencies and detail their functions. Thus, over the past century, Presidents who have attempted to reorganize the Federal Government have first obtained authorization from Congress to do so.”

Trump’s reorganization push includes proposals to eliminate the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), cut diversity programs, and dissolve multiple departments as part of a dramatic reduction of government size and scope.

Legal challenges to specific agency actions are expected to continue as unions and advocacy groups vow to resist what they describe as unconstitutional overreach by the executive branch.