Why some federal workers made deals offered by Trump
“I was hoping to retire with federal workers,” Until recently, 27-year-old Jourdain Solis was employed by the Internal Revenue Service. When he heard that the program he was working for would be eliminated, he decided to bow.
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on June 2 asked the Supreme Court to carry out massive staffing and agency restructuring while the president’s powers to make such drastic changes without Congress are being challenged.
In filing the emergency, the Justice Department said the court should suspend the end of federal jobs for tens of thousands and lift the orders of federal judges closing many agencies and programs.
The DOJ said the judge’s order is based on “irrefutable premises” that require Congressional permission to make decisions on administrative staffing.
San Francisco US District Judge Susan Ilston has determined that unions, nonprofits and municipalities are likely to succeed, challenging the administration’s efforts to reduce and rebuild the federal government.
“After a dramatic staff cut, these agencies will not be able to do what Congress has directed them to,” she wrote in an order that would stop the massive layoffs and reorganizations of 22 federal agencies.
A three-judge panel on the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 on May 30th against the administration’s request to block Ilston’s order.
“The executive order that is questionable here is far greater than the president’s supervisory power under the Constitution,” Judge William Fletcher wrote in the opinion added by Judge Lucy Coe. He was deliberately appointed as the Democratic president.
Judge Consuelo Callahan, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, opposed the administration’s likely to ultimately win the court battle, saying it was harmed by failing to carry out policies during that time.
The restructuring is at the heart of Elon Musk’s push for government efficiency to reduce the federal government and dramatically reduce spending.
Trump urged agencies to automate routine tasks, close local offices, and reduce the use of external contractors, while eliminating overlapping roles, unnecessary management layers and non-critical work.
Those challenging the change say it will hinder disaster relief programs, public health services, food safety testing and infection prevention.
The Supreme Court has asked challengers to meet Trump’s request by June 9th.
