DOGE Ruling: Court Rejects Trump Firings
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has decisively blocked the Trump administration‘s mass firings orchestrated by Elon musk’s DOGE, marking a meaningful legal setback for the former president.The court’s ruling, detailed in a 45-page document, found these dismissals unlawful, citing violations of the separation of powers and a clear overreach by DOGE. Senior Judge William A.Fletcher’s opinion underscored how the executive order bypassed Congress’s authority,impacting agencies like the Department of Energy and AmeriCorps. This decision, which upholds a previous order, could reshape the role of federal agency staffing. News Directory 3 offers incisive coverage of this development.With a potential appeal to the Supreme Court looming, what are the implications for the federal workforce and the ongoing legal battle? Discover what’s next in this fast-developing story.
Court Blocks Trump-Musk Federal Worker Firings: What’s the Role?
Updated May 31, 2025
A federal appeals court has affirmed that the mass firings of federal employees, orchestrated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, were unlawful. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal from Trump seeking too overturn a previous order blocking the dismissals.
The ruling, detailed in a 45-page document, was linked to by Politico legal correspondent Kyle Cheney. The court panel, overseeing Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state, voted 2-1 against the Trump administration. This decision upholds U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston’s earlier ruling that the mass firings were unconstitutional.
Senior Judge William A. Fletcher, appointed by President Bill Clinton, concurred that the executive order enabling the “restructuring” of federal agencies infringed upon the separation of powers. He argued it bypassed congress’s authority over federal agency staffing. Fletcher emphasized that Musk’s DOGE lacked legitimate power in this context. The court examined the role of DOGE and it’s overreach.
“As Defendants concede, OMB [Office of Management and Budget] and OPM [Office of Personnel Management] have only supervisory authority over the other federal agencies,” Fletcher wrote. “DOGE has no statutory authority whatsoever. We therefore agree with the district court that these organizations’ actions directing other federal agencies to engage in restructuring and large-scale RIFs were [illegally carried out beyond legal powers].”
Fletcher noted the impossibility of detailing all illegal actions without excessively lengthening the order. However, he cited examples of mass firings under the District Court order, which the 9th Circuit panel supported. The Trump administration’s actions significantly impacted the federal workforce and its role in various agencies.
Specifically, Fletcher highlighted proposed cuts at the Department of Energy, potentially slashing the agency’s workforce by up to 50%. This included significant reductions in science, innovation programs (54%), and energy infrastructure and deployment (61%). AmeriCorps reportedly issued notices and placed 85% of its staff on leave. The General Services Administration announced plans to terminate nearly half its staff, resulting in a lack of personnel to maintain critical systems.
What’s next
The Trump administration now faces the option of appealing to the full 9th Circuit or petitioning the Supreme Court for a stay during ongoing litigation. The initial lawsuit was filed by a coalition of labor unions representing federal workers. Defendants included Trump, Musk, and several Cabinet secretaries.