Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court Approval to Restart Mass Federal Worker Firings

The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to lift a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston that blocks the mass firing of federal employees under President Trump's February executive order aimed at reducing federal bureaucracy. The order targets large-scale workforce reductions managed by the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Government Efficiency, which Judge Illston ruled lack statutory authority to carry out such dismissals or restructure agencies. The legal challenge to the firings was brought by labor unions, nonprofit groups, and municipalities, with additional support from Democratic-leaning states, arguing the administration failed to follow required legal procedures. Solicitor General John Sauer urged the Supreme Court to allow the firings to proceed, emphasizing the administration's authority and noting that the court's halt is preventing ongoing workforce reductions in over a dozen federal agencies and incurring taxpayer costs. The case reflects broader tensions over the federal workforce's size and restructuring authority, with the administration asserting the need to eliminate waste and inefficiency, while opponents argue for legal protections and procedural fairness for federal workers.