The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division, has issued a preliminary injunction to halt the Trump administration’s reorganization of the federal government. This legal action comes as part of a significant challenge to the President’s authority to make such changes without Congressional approval.
A coalition comprising nationwide labor unions, non-profit organizations, and various cities and counties from states including California, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Washington is behind this case. The coalition released a statement expressing their concerns about the reorganization: “The Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to reorganize the federal government has thrown agencies into chaos, disrupting critical services provided across our nation. Each of us represents communities deeply invested in the efficiency of the federal government – laying off federal employees en masse and reorganizing government functions haphazardly does not achieve that. We are gratified by the court’s decision today to pause these harmful actions while our case proceeds.”
Members of this coalition include organizations such as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Alliance for Retired Americans, American Geophysical Union, among others. Cities like San Francisco and Chicago also participate in this effort.
Legal representation for the coalition is provided by Democracy Forward along with Altshuler Berzon LLP, Protect Democracy, Public Rights Project, and Democracy Defenders Fund.
The lawsuit titled AFGE v. Trump claims that proceeding with such a reorganization without legislative backing violates constitutional principles related to separation of powers.
Democracy Forward describes itself as a national legal organization dedicated to advancing democracy through litigation and policy efforts.
