The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday removed barriers to President Donald Trump's plans to terminate tens of thousands of federal employees and drastically reshape the government's structure by overturning prior judicial orders that had temporarily halted the reductions. This ruling marks a significant win for the Trump administration, which has been pushing for an unprecedented overhaul of the state apparatus despite warnings about losing essential services.
In an unsigned order, the majority of the high court's justices—including two typically viewed as progressive—allowed the administration to proceed with layoffs and restructuring while litigation continues in lower courts. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, accusing her colleagues of "giving the green light to this president’s legally dubious actions in an emergency stance." In her 15-page opinion, she labeled the decision as "arrogant and senseless."
Although the Court refrained from ruling on the legality of specific cuts, it maintained that the plans themselves were not yet under its review. The cuts are spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an entity established by Trump and led until May by Elon Musk. The tech magnate, who was a close ally of the president, stepped down following a conflict with the White House. Since then, the reduction policy has continued, causing concern across various sectors of the nation.
There are no official figures on the scale of the impact, but at least 75,000 federal employees have taken part in deferred resignation programs and thousands more—particularly those on probation—have been laid off. Additionally, an unspecified number of workers have been placed on leave.
Trump’s executive order, signed on February 11, directed federal agencies to plan for massive layoffs and reorganizations as part of his goal to "eliminate waste" and shrink the size of the federal government. The measure affects 19 agencies and departments, including Agriculture, Energy, Labor, Interior, State, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. Key institutions like the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Social Security Administration (SSA), National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, and Environmental Protection Agency are also impacted.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union of federal workers, filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the president lacks the authority to unilaterally dismantle structures created by Congress. Attorney General John Sauer, who defended the administration's stance before the Supreme Court, argued that the president does not need special Congressional authorization to exercise his oversight power over the Executive Branch’s functioning, and that his order merely instructs agencies to act in accordance with existing law.
This latest decision is one in a series of recent judicial victories for Trump. On June 27, the Supreme Court also restricted federal judges' ability to temporarily block the president’s executive orders, allowing the administration to advance with the elimination of birthright citizenship in certain jurisdictions, even as legal challenges continue.
The White House has hailed this series of rulings as an endorsement of its strategy to profoundly reform the federal bureaucracy. Trump asserts that his aim is to enhance efficiency and citizen control over the state apparatus. Meanwhile, critics and experts warn that the cuts could have severe consequences in sensitive areas such as veteran healthcare, food safety, and environmental protection.
Key Questions About the Supreme Court's Ruling on Federal Job Cuts
What is the significance of the Supreme Court's decision?
The decision allows the Trump administration to proceed with significant layoffs and restructuring within the federal government, marking a pivotal victory for the president's agenda to reduce government size and increase efficiency.
What are the potential impacts of these federal job cuts?
Critics warn that the job cuts could lead to serious consequences in vital areas such as healthcare for veterans, food safety, and environmental protection, as essential services may be compromised.
Who is leading the restructuring efforts?
The restructuring is led by the Department of Government Efficiency, which was established by Trump and initially directed by Elon Musk until his departure in May.
Why did Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissent?
Justice Jackson dissented because she believed her colleagues were endorsing actions by the president that she considered legally questionable, describing the decision as both arrogant and senseless.