There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation, according to the White House, and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.
The judge was also considering applying the injunction retrospectively to workers who’ve already been placed on administrative leave, but might stay that relief pending a decision in the case to prevent workers from being “ping-ponged” on and off the job.
Attorneys for the American Federation of Government Employees and the AFL-CIO have also asked the court to require the Trump administration to provide detailed reports on how they are complying with the temporary injunction.
In making her decision, Illston said she considered 1500 pages of evidence from attorneys of federal employees. The government chose not to present evidence to support its position that the mass firings and reorganizations were legal.
“ Upon receiving a fuller evidentiary record, my conclusions may change,” Illston said, “but the evidence before the court today strongly suggests that the recent actions of the executive branch usurp the constitutional powers of Congress.”
On Friday, the Trump Administration appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to lift Illston’s previous order.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
