Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Unconstitutional Dismantling of Federal Government
TL/DR –
A US federal judge in California has temporarily halted actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to restructure federal agencies, saying that such changes require congressional approval. The overhaul is being challenged by a coalition of unions, local governments, and nonprofits. The judge ordered a stop to large-scale layoffs until a decision is reached on the legality of the reshuffling.
A Californian federal judge temporarily halted what a coalition of trade unions, local governments, and nonprofits argued was the unconstitutional dismantling of the federal government by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Since January, Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, have aimed to overhaul the bureaucracy, despite lacking congressional authorization, the coalition maintains.
Joining the coalition are American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Alliance for Retired Americans, Main Street Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, and cities including San Francisco, Chicago, and Baltimore.
District Judge Susan Illston ruled the president must pursue changes to executive branch agencies lawfully and with legislative branch cooperation. She issued a temporary restraining order to pause large-scale reductions.
Illston denied defendants’ request for a stay of execution of the temporary restraining order and urged swift consideration of a preliminary injunction.
The coalition expressed relief at the decision to pause these disruptive actions while their case proceeds.
The challenge to Trump’s authority to reshape the government without congressional approval was filed by the coalition’s legal team: Democracy Forward, Altshuler Berzon LLP, Protect Democracy, Public Rights Project, and State Democracy Defenders Fund.
During an emergency hearing, coalition attorney Danielle Leonard argued the administration’s vision raises a profound separation of powers conflict, according to The New York Times.
With narrow Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, even if the lawsuit succeeds, Trump could potentially collaborate with lawmakers to pursue a similar restructuring of the federal government.
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