Unions Sound Alarm: White House Pushes Mass Layoffs at Interior Department, Defying Court Order | TNNEWS

Federal Shutdown Sparks Legal Battle Over Planned Layoffs

The ongoing federal shutdown has surpassed two weeks, with unions representing government workers raising alarms about potential mass layoffs at the Interior Department, despite a court order temporarily halting such actions.

Legal Dispute Over Workforce Reductions

Two major unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, have taken legal action against what they describe as “politically motivated reductions in force” (RIFs). They argue these layoffs are being pursued in violation of a court order.

Attorney Danielle Leonard, representing the plaintiffs, revealed in a court filing that credible sources indicated the Interior Department was preparing to dismiss thousands of employees starting Monday. This raised immediate concerns about compliance with the court’s directive.

Judicial Response and Government Accountability

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston has expedited the deadline for the government to provide detailed information on the layoffs, demanding specifics by Friday afternoon. This includes the number of employees affected and the programs targeted for cuts.

Earlier, the administration had informed the court of RIF processes underway at eight agencies, impacting over 4,000 workers. Notably, around 800 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services received erroneous layoff notices.

Fluid Situation and Political Reactions

Stephen Billy, a senior advisor at the Office of Management and Budget, described the situation as “fluid and rapidly evolving.” Following a recent hearing, Judge Illston issued a temporary restraining order to halt the layoffs until a further hearing scheduled for later this month.

Judge Illston criticized the administration’s approach, likening it to “ready, fire, aim,” and accused them of exploiting the funding lapse to bypass legal constraints.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the judge’s actions as partisan, asserting the legality of the administration’s decisions and labeling the layoffs as an “unfortunate consequence” of the shutdown.