Denies Trump Request to Overturn Injunction in Case Brought by Massive Coalition of Labor Unions, Non-Profit Organizations, Cities and Counties 

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has rejected a request from the Trump-Vance administration to pause a lower court ruling that halted the unlawful reorganization of the federal government while a case challenging the constitutionality of the mass firings proceeds. The coalition bringing the case – which includes nationwide labor unions, non-profit organizations, and cities and counties in California, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Washington – is represented by lead co-counsel Democracy Forward and Altshuler Berzon LLP, Protect Democracy, Public Rights Project, and Democracy Defenders Fund. 

The coalition released the following statement in response to the court’s decision: 

“The Ninth Circuit’s decision today rightfully maintains the block on the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful, disruptive, and destructive reorganization of the federal government. The Executive Branch’s actions have already thrown agencies into chaos, disrupting critical services to people and communities 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 allow the pause of these harmful actions to endure while our case proceeds.”

The coalition includes 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 three SEIU Locals (521, 1000, 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; Main Street Alliance; NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council); Northeast Organic Farming Association Inc.; VoteVets; Western Watersheds Project; City and County of San Francisco, California; County of Santa Clara, California; City of Chicago, Illinois; City of Baltimore, Maryland; Harris County, Texas; and King County, Washington. 

Statements from plaintiffs and counsel in the case are here. 

AFGE v. Trump argues that the Trump administration’s unlawful reorganization of the federal government, which is already underway without legislative authority, violates the Constitution’s fundamental separation of powers principles. 

Read the complaint here and the preliminary injunction here. 

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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.