Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Trump Federal Layoffs

The U.S. Supreme Court has lifted a lower court injunction, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with mass layoffs and reorganizations of federal agencies under Executive Order No. 14210 while legal challenges continue. The unsigned order, supported by a majority of justices, does not address the legality of specific agency actions but suggests the government is likely to prevail regarding the executive order itself. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissent, warning of serious harm to federal services and criticizing the decision as prematurely expanding presidential authority over Congress. Labor unions, local governments, and nonprofit groups argue the president is unlawfully bypassing Congress, risking essential government functions and tens of thousands of jobs. The decision is a significant but temporary win for Trump’s efforts to streamline the federal government, though future legal challenges on specific agency actions are still possible. Litigation will continue as challengers are permitted to contest individual layoffs case by case.