State judge hinders planned job terminations by the Department of State
In a significant development, a federal judge has stepped in to prevent the State Department from proceeding with its planned reorganization, which includes thousands of layoffs.
California-based District Judge Susan Illston issued a new order on Wednesday, blocking the State Department from moving forward with its reorganization and subsequent layoffs. This decision comes after the judge rejected the Trump administration's argument that the State Department was a "special case" that merited different treatment.
The State Department, under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been looking to shed its workforce by approximately 3,400 employees. The reorganization, which emphasises counterdrug operations and confronting regimes like Venezuela’s Maduro government, has been a key focus for Secretary Rubio.
Initially, the administration had argued that the State Department's reorganization was conducted separately from President Trump's mandate for all agencies to slash their workforces. However, Judge Illston's ruling suggests that the reorganization and subsequent layoffs were not solely based on this mandate.
The larger injunction blocking the State Department's reorganization, including potential layoffs, is currently pending before the Supreme Court. A decision on the Supreme Court's ruling is expected soon.
The plaintiffs in the case had asked Judge Illston to reverse the firings of probationary employees at the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), but she requested more information and instructed the Trump administration to allow her to review HUD's reorganization plan.
Meanwhile, other agencies are also preparing to swiftly implement layoffs if the Supreme Court rules in the administration's favour. The RIF notices were expected to hit inboxes in the coming days or weeks, absent the court's intervention.
Justice Department lawyers had previously stated that the State Department could begin issuing layoffs as soon as Friday, but employees were subsequently told that this would not occur. The State Department has continued to prepare for Reduction in Force (RIF) actions, asking employees to update their resumes and personnel files.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals previously rejected the administration's efforts to overturn Illston's order. The administration had initially argued that State's plans were not subject to the injunction because it was at the instruction of Secretary Marco Rubio.
This decision by Judge Illston marks a significant victory for the employees facing potential layoffs and raises questions about the administration's approach to federal workforce reductions. As we await the Supreme Court's ruling, it is hoped that this intervention will provide some stability for the affected employees.
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