A U.S. appeals court on May 30, 2025, upheld a lower court’s ruling blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order for mass layoffs and restructuring of federal agencies. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, denied the Trump administration’s request to lift U.S. District Judge Susan Illston’s May 22 injunction, which halted large-scale layoffs at approximately 20 federal agencies. Illston’s ruling, supported by a coalition of labor unions, nonprofits, and municipalities, stated that the president lacks authority to reorganize agencies without congressional approval, as such actions exceed constitutional executive powers.
The appeals court, with Judges William Fletcher and Lucy Koh in the majority, found no evidence that the administration would face irreparable harm if the order remained blocked and deemed the plaintiffs likely to prevail, stating, “The executive order at issue here far exceeds the president’s supervisory powers under the Constitution.” Judge Consuelo Callahan dissented, arguing the administration was likely to succeed on appeal. The decision, a significant setback for the overhaul spearheaded by Trump ally Elon Musk, prevents the administration from cutting tens of thousands of federal jobs and closing government offices for now, with an appeal process that could take months. The Trump administration has also appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge Illston’s earlier rulings, claiming they infringe on executive authority.
This ruling aligns with other judicial checks on Trump’s agenda, including blocks on tariffs and funding freezes, reflecting ongoing tensions over presidential power. Posts on X, such as one from @DDIndialive on May 31, 2025, highlight the ruling as a restraint on Trump’s plans, though X posts alone are not conclusive evidence. The case underscores broader legal battles over executive overreach, with plaintiffs arguing that agencies were acting on Trump’s orders without independent analysis, violating congressional mandates.
