Court order prevents the Trump Administration from moving forward with massive federal workforce reductions
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 23, 2025) – San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti issued the following statements today after U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston granted a Preliminary Injunction Order preventing the Trump Administration’s unconstitutional reorganization of the federal government without congressional authority.
“Trump is illegally attempting to dismantle the federal government with a stroke of a pen on an executive order,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu. “The President does not have authority to unilaterally execute mass layoffs and radically restructure federal agencies. Trump is ignoring constitutional checks and balances and trying to act as both President and Congress. These dramatic and illegal changes make it extremely difficult for local governments to deliver programs and services to our communities. We appreciate the Court again recognized the disastrous harms we are facing and blocked these unlawful actions.”
“The Court’s order recognizes the real and direct harm being caused by the Trump Administration’s reckless and chaotic efforts to dismantle the federal government at a scale truly unprecedented in U.S. history,” said Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti. “Local governments across the country rely on a dependable and well-staffed federal government to effectively serve our communities’ needs. President Trump’s attempt to bypass congressional authority and massively reshape the federal government is not only unconstitutional but demonstrates a complete and utter disregard for thousands of hard-working public servants and the day-to-day health and safety of our communities. The Court’s decision puts a necessary pause on these harmful actions as our case proceeds.”
Background
The lawsuit, which was filed on April 28, is being brought by the City and County of San Francisco, the County of Santa Clara, and a large coalition of plaintiffs including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and four AFGE locals, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and SEIU Locals 521, 1000, and 1021, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Geophysical Union, American Public Health Association, Center for Taxpayer Rights, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, Common Defense Civic Engagement, Main Street Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northeast Organic Farming Association, VoteVets Action Fund, Western Watersheds Project, City of Chicago, Illinois; City of Baltimore, Maryland; Harris County, Texas; and Martin Luther King, Jr. County, Washington.
The City and County of San Francisco and the County of Santa Clara are self-represented. Other coalition members are represented by Democracy Forward, Altshuler Berzon LLP, Protect Democracy, the Public Rights Project, and State Democracy Defenders Fund. The case, AFGE v. Trump, was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was issued by the Court on May 9.
The Preliminary Injunction Order issued on May 22 can be found here.
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