Latest news with #SusanIllston
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to lift judge's new block on mass layoffs
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to lift a judge's block on mass layoffs across the federal bureaucracy, saying it rests on an 'indefensible premise' that Congress must provide authorization. It marks the administration's 18th Supreme Court emergency appeal since taking office and the second time the layoffs case has reached the justices. The administration had appealed the judge's previous block, but that ruling only lasted two weeks. The Supreme Court refused to oblige the Justice Department's request by letting the clock run out until the order expired. But the new injunction issued May 22 by San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, an appointee of former President Clinton, lasts indefinitely. Ruling that Congress must authorize any large-scale reductions in force, known as an RIF, the order blocks the administration from conducting mass layoffs across a wide swath of federal agencies. 'Every day that the preliminary injunction remains in effect, a government-wide program to implement agency RIFs is being halted and delayed, maintaining a bloated and inefficient workforce while wasting countless taxpayer dollars,' Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in the application to the high court. The Trump administration has looked to massively reshape the federal bureaucracy alongside the new Department of Government Efficiency, including by sharply reducing the workforce at various agencies and entirely dismantling others. A coalition of labor unions, advocacy groups and local governments sued after Trump signed an executive order in February directing all agencies to prepare for an RIF. The Supreme Court appeal comes after a divided 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel declined to lift Illston's new injunction Friday. Beyond asserting that Trump has legal authority to move forward, the administration argues the suit is improper because many of the RIFs haven't been finalized and federal law requires any challenges to be channeled into specialized review boards, not the federal district courts. Justice Elena Kagan, who by default handles emergency matters arising from the 9th Circuit, ordered the plaintiffs to respond within a week. Kagan could then act on the request alone or refer it to the full court for a vote, as is typical in emergency appeals filed by the sitting administration. It won't be the first time the Supreme Court grapples with Trump's efforts to reduce the federal workforce. In April, the Supreme Court agreed to lift another judge's injunction that had blocked the administration from firing thousands of 'probationary' employees, federal workers who are often in their first or second year in a position. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trump asks Supreme Court to overrule lower court block on mass federal layoffs
. Donald Trump administration on Monday filed an emergency request asking the US supreme court to let it move forward with wide-ranging layoffs and agency closures. The request comes as a lower court has put the brakes on the administration's efforts to reduce federal jobs and shut down various programmes. The justice department urged the court to lift the pause placed by US district judge Susan Illston, who ruled that labour unions, nonprofit groups, and city governments are likely to succeed in their legal challenge, reported USA Today. Judge Illston's order temporarily blocks the termination of tens of thousands of jobs and the shutdown of regional offices. The administration argues that the president, as head of the executive branch, does not require Congressional approval to make staffing decisions. It called the judge's reasoning 'indefensible' and claimed the ruling prevents the government from implementing urgent cost-cutting reforms. Judge Consuelo Callahan, who disagreed with the lower court's stance, said the administration is likely to win the case and should be allowed to continue with its policies while the case moves through the courts. The proposed changes are part of a broader push led by Elon Musk's department of government efficiency. The plan focuses on cutting overlapping roles, automating routine work, and limiting the use of external contractors. Critics argue the restructuring will weaken public services — including food safety inspections, disaster response, and public health — leaving vulnerable communities at greater risk.
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to lift judge's new block on mass layoffs
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to lift a judge's block on mass layoffs across the federal bureaucracy, saying it rests on an 'indefensible premise' that Congress must provide authorization. It marks the administration's 18th Supreme Court emergency appeal since taking office and the second time the case has reached the justices. The administration had appealed the judge's previous block, but that ruling only lasted two weeks. The Supreme Court refused to oblige the Justice Department's request by letting the clock run out until the order expired. But the new injunction issued on May 22 by San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, an appointee of former President Clinton, lasts indefinitely. Ruling that Congress must authorize any large-scale reductions in force, known as a RIF, the order blocks the administration from conducting mass layoffs across a wide swath of federal agencies. 'Every day that the preliminary injunction remains in effect, a government-wide program to implement agency RIFs is being halted and delayed, maintaining a bloated and inefficient workforce while wasting countless taxpayer dollars,' Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in the application to the high court. The Trump administration has looked to massively reshape the federal bureaucracy alongside the new Department of Government Efficiency, including by sharply reducing the workforce at various agencies and entirely dismantling others. A coalition of labor unions, advocacy groups and local governments sued after Trump signed an executive order in February directing all agencies to prepare for a RIF. The Supreme Court appeal comes after a divided 9 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Friday declined to lift Illston's new injunction. Beyond asserting that Trump has legal authority to move forward, the administration argues the suit is improper because many of the RIFs haven't been finalized and federal law requires any challenges to be channeled into specialized review boards, not the federal district courts. Justice Elena Kagan, who by default handles emergency matters arising from the 9th Circuit, ordered the plaintiffs to respond within a week. Kagan could then act on the request alone or refer it to the full court for a vote, as is typical in emergency appeals filed by the sitting administration. It won't be the first time the Supreme Court grapples with Trump's efforts to reduce the federal workforce. In April, the Supreme Court agreed to lift another judge's injunction that had blocked the administration from firing thousands of probationary employees, meaning federal workers who are often in their first or second year in a position.
Reuters
9 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Trump asks US Supreme Court to allow mass federal layoffs
WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to halt a judicial order blocking mass job cuts and the restructuring of agencies, part of the Republican president's campaign to downsize and reshape the federal government. The Justice Department's request came after San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Susan Illston blocked large-scale federal layoffs, known as "reductions in force," in a May 22 ruling siding with a group of unions, non-profit groups and local governments that challenged the administration. The case involves the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, State, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, among others. Trump directed federal agencies in February to "promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force" as part of his administration's restructuring plans. Illston wrote in her ruling that Trump had exceeded his authority in ordering the downsizing. "As history demonstrates, the president may broadly restructure federal agencies only when authorized by Congress," Illston wrote. Illston on May 9 had initially blocked about 20 agencies from making mass layoffs for two weeks and ordered the reinstatement of workers who had lost their jobs. She continued most of that relief in her May 22 ruling. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 ruling on May 30 denied the Trump administration's request to halt the judge's ruling. The 9th Circuit said the administration had not shown that it would suffer an irreparable injury if the judge's order remained in place and that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail in their lawsuit. "The executive order at issue here far exceeds the president's supervisory powers under the Constitution," the 9th Circuit wrote, calling the administration's actions "an unprecedented attempted restructuring of the federal government and its operations." Trump's administration has sought relief from the Supreme Court in a growing number of cases following rulings by lower courts impeding various policies since he returned to office in January.
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Donald Trump Suffers DOGE Legal Blow
The Trump administration suffered a legal blow on Friday when an appeals court refused to halt an injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston of California that blocked sweeping federal employment cuts overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a 2-1 ruling the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded the decision would have a dramatic impact on a range of government services including veteran health care and food safety inspections and concluded it should remain on hold whilst the lawsuit continues. The case had initially been brought by a coalition of cities, including Chicago and San Francisco, labor unions and campaign group Democracy Forward. Illston's initial order instructed the government to halt a workforce executive order on employment cuts issued in February and a subsequent memo to this end from DOGE and the Office of Personnel Management. This is a developing story and will be updated. Related Articles Elon Musk Responds to Drug Claims: 'Photographed Constantly'Full List of Trump's Foreign Real Estate Ventures Underway Around the WorldEx-Trump Official Lays Out Why China Might Be 'Worried' To Cut Tariff DealMost Accurate Pollster Finds New Lead 2028 Democratic Candidate 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
