(CBSN) – The Trump administration has requested the Supreme Court to pause a lower court ruling that mandated the reinstatement of more than 16,000 federal probationary workers who were recently terminated.
The move follows a decision by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, which ordered six federal agencies—Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury—to reinstate the workers. The judge ruled that the Office of Personnel Management lacked authority to order their terminations.
Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris criticized the ruling, stating that it improperly interferes with executive personnel decisions and creates a massive administrative burden. She urged the Supreme Court to block the decision, warning that it could set a precedent for courts overriding federal employment policies.
The terminations are part of Trump’s initiative to reduce government size, overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency. Over 24,000 probationary workers were dismissed, prompting multiple legal challenges.
This case is one of over 100 lawsuits challenging Trump’s second-term policies. The administration is also urging the Supreme Court to limit nationwide injunctions, which have repeatedly blocked key executive orders, including Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.
As legal battles escalate, Trump and senior adviser Elon Musk have criticized district court judges, calling for some to be impeached. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have condemned broad court rulings that interfere with executive actions.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the mass federal worker reinstatement could have far-reaching implications for the separation of powers and executive authority.
