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Trump’s Federal Job Purge Faces Major Legal Showdown
Description
The largest legal challenge yet to President Donald Trump's federal reorganization plan is now underway. A sweeping coalition of labor unions, cities and nonprofits — including San Francisco, Baltimore, the American Federation of Government Employees, the Service Employees International Union and VoteVets — is asking a federal judge to block what they call an unconstitutional dismantling of the U.S. government.
At the center is Executive Order 14210 — Trump's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — which demands massive federal layoffs and agency shutdowns without congressional approval.
The administration calls it a "Manhattan Project" to shrink government. Critics call it an illegal power grab.
The lawsuit argues Trump is violating core separation of powers by ordering reductions in force and agency overhauls that only Congress can authorize. If granted, the restraining order would stop layoffs and protect thousands of federal jobs — many of which directly serve Black, brown and low-income communities.
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