A federal judge in Washington has ruled that President Donald Trump’s large-scale dismissal of federal employees can proceed. The decision was delivered Thursday by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who denied a request from workers’ unions seeking to halt the layoffs temporarily.
Cooper determined that the unions’ case fell under federal employment law and must be handled through appropriate administrative channels. Acknowledging the turbulence caused by Trump’s executive actions during his second term, Cooper emphasized the court’s duty to apply the law impartially, regardless of political context.
The ruling follows the termination of thousands of federal workers within the first month of Trump’s renewed presidency. The administration argued that the unions failed to prove the immediate and irreparable harm required to justify an emergency injunction. Conversely, the unions, representing hundreds of thousands of employees, contend that Trump’s workforce reduction oversteps congressional authority, which governs agency funding and layoff procedures.
Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees’ Union, described the decision as a temporary setback, asserting that federal employees would still have the opportunity to contest the dismissals in court. “This ruling is a hurdle, but we remain committed to defending the rights and livelihoods of our members,” she stated.
The lawsuit is part of a broader legal battle against Trump’s executive orders, with more than 80 related cases currently underway. A separate legal challenge addressing mass terminations in California was also filed this week.