The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday rejected the DOJ’s bid to lift a Clinton judge’s order blocking Trump’s reorganization plans for 20 federal agencies.
Last Friday US District Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee, turned a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) into a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump Administration’s effort to overhaul and reorganize 20 agencies in the Executive Branch.
In February, President Trump implemented an executive order to completely overhaul the Executive Branch through the work of DOGE.
The California-based judge said in order for President Trump to make such large-scale overhauls, he needs approval from Congress.
Judge Illston blocked any reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to workers in 20 federal agencies.
The judge’s preliminary injunction came in response to a lawsuit filed by the anti-American AFL-CIO and American Federation of Government Employees.
Judge Illston enjoined DOGE, the State Department, Treasury and other agencies.
The Trump DOJ appealed Judge Illston’s injunction and on Friday, a three-judge panel on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the appeal in a 2-1 decision.
The three-judge panel majority: William Fletcher (Clinton), Lucy Koh (Obama) and dissent: Consuelo Callahan (George W. Bush).
Judges Fletcher and Koh said President Trump violated the separation of powers and usurped congressional authority when he tried to overhaul 20 federal agencies.
JUST IN: 9th circuit rejects Trump admin bid to lift the court order that blocked mass RIFs and agency reorganization.
Trump violated the separation of powers and usurped congressional authority with hte large-scale reorg, the split 2-1 panel rules.https://t.co/NpCIpAab0e pic.twitter.com/F7VKZeDf4g
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 31, 2025
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