Trump’s DOGE stays on track after pair of federal judge rulings
Two federal judges recently made decisions regarding the Trump administration’s efforts to fire federal workers and conduct mass layoffs. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been tasked with finding and slashing wasteful government spending, and these rulings allow them to continue on this path.
One of the judges, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, denied a request from several federal labor unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), to halt the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration. The NTEU and four other labor unions representing federal employees filed a complaint on Feb. 12, challenging the firing of probationary employees and the deferred resignation program.
The resignation program presented federal employees with a choice: return to the office or resign from their positions and continue to get paid through September. The deadline for this decision was initially set for Feb. 6 but was later extended to Feb. 12 before ultimately closing on that day.
In a separate case, 14 states sought a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to prevent Elon Musk and DOGE from accessing data systems at various government agencies. The plaintiffs also requested that Musk and DOGE be prohibited from terminating or furloughing federal officers or employees in those agencies.
Chutkan ruled that DOGE could continue its operations and maintain the status quo, acknowledging the uncertainty and confusion caused by their actions. She also set a court briefing schedule for motions for discovery, preliminary injunctions, and dismissals, extending through April 22.
These decisions highlight the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to cut costs and streamline government operations. While the labor unions and states have raised concerns about the impact on federal workers, the judges have allowed the DOGE to proceed with its mission of efficiency and cost-cutting.
This post was written by Greg Wehner, a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. For more stories and updates, you can reach out to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com or follow him on Twitter @GregWehner.
