US Judge Rejects Union Effort to Halt Trump’s Mass Federal Worker Firings

In a major legal victory for President Donald Trump’s administration, a US federal judge on Thursday rejected a union-backed attempt to temporarily halt the dismissal of thousands of probationary federal employees. The ruling clears the way for mass layoffs as part of Trump’s aggressive cost-cutting measures aimed at reducing the government workforce.

Judge Denies Restraining Order on Federal Worker Firings

District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that he lacked jurisdiction over the case, stating that the dispute should be handled by the Federal Labor Relations Authority, the body responsible for federal employment disputes. The decision marks a significant blow to the National Treasury Employees Union and four other labor unions that had sought emergency intervention to prevent the termination of their members who were still in their probationary period.

The ruling comes amid reports that approximately 6,700 workers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), part of a larger workforce of 100,000, are already being laid off. Many of these employees were part of tax enforcement teams, raising concerns about the timing of the mass firings, which come just weeks before the April 15 tax filing deadline.

For thousands of affected employees, the layoffs have thrown their lives into turmoil. A former IRS probationary officer, who requested anonymity, described the abruptness of the process. “We were told to cancel any trips and report to the office with our government-issued IDs and laptops,” she said. “There was zero empathy. This has turned people’s lives upside down.”

She added that there was no severance offered, leaving many employees in financial distress. “I have a mortgage and health insurance to worry about. Now I have no job and no income,” she said.

Elon Musk’s Role in the Layoffs

The mass firings are part of an initiative by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting task force led by billionaire Elon Musk, a close Trump ally and major donor. The initiative aims to reduce government spending by targeting inefficiencies and streamlining federal agencies.

However, several affected workers claim that agency managers themselves were caught off guard by the firings. One former revenue agent, who worked on corporate tax oversight, stated, “Our managers had no idea this was coming. DOGE is making it look like agencies are making these decisions, but they’re just as shocked as we are.”

The cuts have been widely criticized, with some experts warning that reducing tax enforcement staff could benefit corporations and wealthy individuals rather than middle- or working-class taxpayers. “Republicans have twisted the narrative to make it seem like the IRS is targeting regular citizens when, in reality, we were hired to ensure large corporations and high-net-worth individuals pay their fair share,” the former agent explained.

Legal Pushback and More Layoffs Expected

The Trump administration’s mass workforce reduction has sparked numerous legal challenges. Last week, another federal judge declined an emergency request from 14 Democratic-led states to block DOGE from firing government employees.

Additionally, the administration has offered buyout packages to federal employees in an attempt to downsize the government workforce voluntarily. The White House reported that over 75,000 employees have already accepted buyout offers. However, many affected workers say they were placed in a difficult position.

One laid-off IRS employee stated, “It was like choosing between a rock and a hard place. Either quit my job or get fired. And for it to happen in such a cruel fashion is just heartbreaking.”

Despite ongoing legal battles, the Trump administration remains committed to its efforts to restructure and reduce the federal workforce. As the controversy continues, federal unions and Democratic lawmakers are expected to push back, potentially taking the matter to higher courts in the coming weeks.