President Donald Trump has formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to lift a federal judge’s order blocking his plan to downsize the federal workforce. The move comes as a major legal battle unfolds between Trump’s administration and a coalition of labor unions, cities, and advocacy groups.
The appeal, filed Friday by Solicitor General D. John Sauer, challenges a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco. The judge’s ruling halted implementation of Trump’s executive order and a follow-up memo from the Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Personnel Management.
Judge Illston, appointed by President Bill Clinton, questioned whether the Trump administration had legal authority to proceed with its sweeping staff reductions. Her order affects a wide range of federal agencies, including Agriculture, Labor, Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, and the EPA.
Unless extended, the restraining order will expire next week. Meanwhile, the administration has also filed an emergency appeal with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has yet to issue a decision.
Trump’s workforce reduction plan has already triggered major changes. At least 75,000 federal workers have accepted deferred resignations, while thousands of probationary employees have been dismissed. The administration views the cuts as essential for shrinking what Trump calls a bloated and inefficient government.
However, the impact has raised concern. Illston’s ruling cited cases such as a Vermont farmer missing disaster aid due to agency delays and the near-total dismantling of a Pittsburgh office researching mine-related health hazards. A reduction in Social Security staff has also caused increased wait times.
The plaintiffs include major U.S. cities—San Francisco, Chicago, and Baltimore—alongside labor unions such as the American Federation of Government Employees. Nonprofits like the Alliance for Retired Americans and the Center for Taxpayer Rights are also involved.
These groups argue that Trump’s plan not only disrupts essential services but also violates legal protections for federal workers. They are pressing courts to permanently block the administration’s actions.
This is not the first legal clash over Trump’s workforce cuts. In March, Judge William Alsup ordered reinstatement of fired probationary workers in a separate case. The Supreme Court later blocked his ruling, setting the stage for the current showdown.
As Trump asks Supreme Court to greenlight federal workforce cuts, the legal outcome could reshape how future administrations manage the federal bureaucracy.
For more updates, visit DC Brief.
