Trump Turns to Supreme Court to Advance Federal Layoff Agenda

President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn an injunction from a lower court blocking mass systemic federal layoffs and agency reorganizations as an aggressive advance of his mission to overhaul the federal bureaucracy. On Friday, the Justice Department submitted the emergency request challenging a May 9 determination from U.S. District Judge Susan Illston which halted large-scale reductions in force for a term of 14 days.

Judicial Battle Regarding Presidential Power

In the case, Judge Illston ruled in favor of unions, nonprofits and local governments, finding that Trump exceeded his authority in ordering significant cuts to staff. “As history shows, the president may broadly reorganize federal agencies only when Congress has given authority,” she said in her ruling. Her order which was referred to by the administration as a universal injunction, will prevent most of the executive branch from implementing any plans to reduce the federal workforce. It also ordered the release of sensitive agency records, which may be protected by executive privilege.

Read Also: Trump Urges Supreme Court to End Humanitarian Parole for 500,000 Immigrants

The Justice Department stated the injunction is too broad and infringes on executive power. “That sweeping order prohibits almost the entire executive branch from planning and implementing a reduction in the size of the federal workforce” the filing said. The Justice Department also called out the judge for saying the president did not have the authority to direct executive agencies on personnel issues.

Since his return to office in January, Trump has seen more legal backlash from various rulings from trial courts that are stopping key policies. His ordering in February required federal agencies to promptly undertake preparations for thousands of layoffs for a government overhaul.

Now, with more similar cases pending including one regarding birthright citizenship, the administration is pressing on the Supreme Court to save judicial orders that block executive actions nationally.