Two federal judges refused this week to halt the Trump administration from firing federal workers and carrying out mass layoffs, allowing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to continue with its mission of identifying and eliminating wasteful government spending.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper rejected a request from various federal labor unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), on Thursday to halt the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration.
NTEU and four other labor unions representing federal employees – the National Federation of Federal Employees; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America – filed a complaint on Feb. 12, challenging the firing of probationary employees and the deferred resignation program.
The resignation program gave federal employees a choice: they could either return to work or resign from their positions and continue to receive pay through September, with a decision deadline of Feb. 6. This deadline was extended to Feb. 12 and then closed on that day.
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Elon Musk is heading up President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The unions requested a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and preliminary injunction to stop the firing of probationary employees across all federal agencies and the continuation of the resignation program on Feb. 14, and the case was sent to Cooper’s court the next day.
Cooper denied the request, stating that the court does not have jurisdiction over the unions’ claims.
Instead, Cooper ruled that the unions must address their challenges through the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, which allows for administrative review by the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
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In a separate case, 14 states asked U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to issue a TRO to prevent Elon Musk and DOGE from accessing data systems at various government agencies for 14 days after the order is issued.
The plaintiffs also requested that Musk and DOGE be prohibited from terminating, furloughing, or placing on leave any federal officers or employees in those agencies.
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This week, Chutkan wrote, “The court is aware that DOGE’s unpredictable actions have led to significant uncertainty and confusion for Plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents.”
She ultimately ruled that DOGE can continue its operations as usual.
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Chutkan also issued a court briefing schedule on Friday for plaintiffs and defendants to submit motions for discovery, preliminary injunctions, and dismissals, extending until April 22.
