Supreme Court Clears Trump to Push Ahead With Large-Scale Federal Layoffs

Landmark Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered another win for President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The justices allowed his executive order to proceed with sweeping cuts across federal agencies.

In an unsigned decision, the Court lifted a lower court injunction that had blocked Trump’s February 13 directive calling for “large-scale reductions in force.” The injunction came from Clinton-appointed Judge Susan Illston in Northern California, who questioned the order’s legality.

However, the Supreme Court said her ruling relied on speculation. The actual reorganization plans had not yet been submitted for review.

“Given that the Government is likely to prevail on its assertion that the Executive Order and Memorandum are lawful — and considering that the other factors relevant to granting a stay are met — we approve the application,” the Court wrote.

Justice Sotomayor’s Concurrence

Even Justice Sonia Sotomayor sided with the majority. She clarified that her agreement was procedural, not an endorsement of Trump’s downsizing agenda.

“I concur with the Court’s stay because it allows the District Court to address those issues initially,” she wrote.

Dissent from Justice Jackson

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. She warned the ruling could trigger “mass employee terminations, widespread cancellation of federal programs and services, and the dismantling of much of the Federal Government as established by Congress.”

Jackson stressed that Trump would need Congressional approval for such sweeping cuts. “According to our Constitution, Congress possesses the authority to create administrative agencies and define their functions,” she said.

Administration Moves Forward

The Court’s majority concluded that the administration has the authority to implement Trump’s plan. The initiative forms part of a broader push to streamline government and increase efficiency. Oversight comes from the Department of Government Efficiency, previously led by Elon Musk.

Labor unions and progressive groups had sued to block the plan. They warned it would slash jobs in agencies including Agriculture, Energy, Labor, Interior, Treasury, State, Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Attorney General Applauds Decision

Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the ruling on X:
“Today, the Supreme Court prevented lawless lower courts from limiting President Trump’s power over federal personnel — yet another Supreme Court triumph thanks to DOJ lawyers. Now, federal agencies can achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency.”

Context: Campaign Finance Case

This ruling adds to a series of recent high-profile legal wins for Trump. In June, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a Republican-backed challenge to federal campaign finance rules.

The case, National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission, was brought by the NRSC, NRCC, and two GOP Senate candidates, including current Vice President JD Vance. The petitioners argue that current restrictions violate the First Amendment by limiting parties’ ability to fully support their candidates.