Summary
A federal judge, Susan Illston, has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from proceeding with plans to lay off thousands of federal workers across 21 agencies, including Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs, in response to a legal challenge. The judge ruled that while presidents can seek changes to federal agencies, they must do so with Congressional approval, emphasizing that large-scale reorganizations cannot occur without legislative consent. The Justice Department plans to appeal the decision, which reflects ongoing tensions between the executive branch and Congress over federal workforce management.
