Judge temporarily pauses Trump’s effort to downsize federal workforce

A federal judge on Friday hit the brakes for 14 days on the Trump administration’s plans to cut the size of the federal workforce, ruling that Congress must formally adopt his plans first.

"Nothing prevents the President from requesting this cooperation—as he did in his prior term of office," said U.S. District Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco. "Indeed, the Court holds the President likely must request Congressional cooperation to order the changes he seeks, and thus issues a temporary restraining order to pause large-scale reductions in force in the meantime."

Several unions and non-profit groups had filed the lawsuit suit last month.

"The President has the authority to seek changes to executive branch agencies, but he must do so in lawful ways and, in the case of large-scale reorganizations, with the cooperation of the legislative branch," the judge said. "Many presidents have sought this cooperation before; many iterations of Congress have provided it."

The new Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has been working with Trump's cabinet to reduce federal spending at agencies, resulting in federal job cuts.