A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration can continue its plan to reduce the federal workforce, rejecting a lawsuit from government employee unions. The decision allows the administration to proceed with layoffs and buyout programs as part of its efforts to shrink federal agencies.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on February 20 that the lawsuit, brought by a coalition of unions, was not within the court’s jurisdiction and must instead be handled by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), the agency that oversees disputes related to federal employment.
The unions had sought an emergency ruling to block the administration from terminating thousands of probationary federal employees and implementing buyout programs designed to incentivize voluntary resignations.
In his decision, Cooper acknowledged the concerns raised by the unions but maintained that the law did not allow him to intervene. “Federal district judges are duty-bound to decide legal issues based on even-handed application of law and precedent—no matter the identity of the litigants or, regrettably at times, the consequences of their rulings for average people,” he wrote.
The unions argued that the administration’s downsizing efforts amounted to “mass firings” that would have devastating consequences for both employees and their unions, which rely on membership dues. They contended that the Trump administration was exceeding its authority by aggressively pushing through layoffs and buyouts that would shrink agencies, particularly targeting employees still in their probationary period.
Cooper noted that the unions’ claims were not without merit, acknowledging that the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) estimated losing $15 million in revenue if the government proceeded with eliminating nonessential employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Health and Human Services. However, he maintained that the unions’ legal challenge belonged before the FLRA rather than a federal district court.
At a court hearing on February 18, an attorney representing the unions warned that the layoffs would cause “irreparable harm,” as many employees would be left without work for months or years while their wrongful termination cases made their way through the administrative process.
The unions also objected to the administration’s buyout program, known as “Fork in the Road,” which offered federal employees full pay and benefits through September 30 in exchange for their voluntary resignation.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees federal employment, had extended the offer to more than two million employees as part of Trump’s broader plan to reduce the federal workforce.
The buyout program had already been the subject of another lawsuit, where a different federal judge, George A. O’Toole Jr., refused to block the program entirely but did extend the timeframe for employees to decide whether to accept the offer. In both cases, the courts ruled that they lacked jurisdiction over the matter, directing challenges to be filed with the appropriate administrative agencies instead.
The decision represents another legal victory for the Trump administration, which has faced a series of lawsuits over its executive actions aimed at reshaping the federal government. Cooper noted in his ruling that such challenges were expected, given the pace and scope of the administration’s efforts. “
The first month of President Trump’s second administration has been defined by an onslaught of executive actions that have caused, some say by design, disruption and even chaos in widespread quarters of American society,” he wrote. “Certain of the President’s actions have been temporarily halted; others have been permitted to proceed, at least for the time being. These mixed results should surprise no one.”
While the unions have vowed to continue their legal battle, the ruling clears the way for the administration to proceed with its restructuring plans for now. With the federal workforce facing potentially significant cuts, employees who remain on the job will be watching closely to see how the administration implements its next moves.