Motion Cites Evidence of Administration’s Non-Compliance with a Feb. 7 Federal Court Order to Stop 2,200+ Federal Workers from Being Put on Leave

Washington — Today, Democracy Forward and Public Citizen Litigation Group filed an emergency motion for a show cause hearing on behalf of the American Foreign Service Association and American Federation of Government Employees. The motion comes in response to evidence the Trump administration is failing to comply with a federal court order issued last week in response to a legal challenge from Democracy Forward and Public Citizen, which stopped more than 2,200 USAID workers from being put on leave. 

The motion states that since the court’s February 7, 2025 order, plaintiffs have become aware that “Defendants have not fully compiled with the terms of this Court’s order.” It goes on to state:

• Certain employees placed on administrative leave still have not had their systems access restored. 
• Factual developments that occurred immediately before and in the wake of the February 7 hearing also suggest that the “government intends to continue taking potentially irreversible actions to dismantle the agency before the Court can adjudicate the lawfulness of those actions on the merits.”
• “In light of evidence suggesting that Defendants have not complied with this Court’s TRO and factual developments suggesting that Defendants continue to take immediate, irreparable action to dismantle the agency” plaintiffs requested the Court schedule a show cause hearing, “directing the government to show why they have not fully complied with this Court’s order granting emergency relief. Plaintiffs also request any further relief that this Court deems just and proper.” 

The show cause motion asks the court to direct the government to show why they have not fully complied with this Court’s order granting emergency relief. Read the motion here and the original complaint here. 

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