Appeal Court remain on hold Trump's mass firings
The decision comes after a pause previously ordered by a federal judge, who noted that Trump needs congressional consent
A legal pause on President Trump's mass firings was ordered by a federal appeals court this Friday. The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 opinion, declined to let Trump's administration proceed with the staff cuts that were announced earlier this year. This decision follows a pause granted by a federal judge earlier this month.
The firings are part of Trump's efforts to limit government expenses through freezing funds and layoffs. Trump delegated this move to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Elon Musk when he announced it. The president is still promising that his administration will slash government spending.
Why did the Appeals Court not approve the reset of the hirings?
On May 22, federal judge Susan Illston put on hold the restructuring and downsizing of the U.S. government's agencies that Donald Trump announced. Illston said that the President needs the consent of Congress in order to make those layoffs. This decision was sent to the Appeals Court to be dismissed.
"The Executive Order at issue here far exceeds the President's supervisory powers under the Constitution," the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals wrote. "The President enjoys significant removal power with respect to the appointed officers of federal agencies."
Across the country, there were a lot of protests against the layoffs on federal agencies and national departments. Photo: The Philadelphia Inquirer
What agencies are affected by Trump's move?
More than 40 agencies and federal departments are affected by Donald Trump's moves. The FBI, NASA, CIA, and even the White House were affected, putting their employees on hold or directly laying them off. According to Forbes, there were 171,843 federal departures in 2025.
However, the Trump administration said that they plan to fight back against the ruling, saying that "A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch." The White House published a statement to US media supporting Donald Trump's initiative.
