A coalition of labor unions, nonprofits, and local governments, including those from Chicago, Baltimore, and Harris County, Texas, has initiated a broad legal challenge against President Trump’s extensive federal government overhaul. The lawsuit, filed late Monday, alleges that actions by the president, Elon Musk, and leaders of nearly two dozen federal agencies to significantly reduce the federal workforce are unconstitutional, as Congress has not authorized them.
The lawsuit claims that, three months into the administration, federal agencies are acting under the directives provided by President Trump through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Newly appointed agency leaders are reportedly eliminating programs and cutting numerous jobs as directed by the president.
The plaintiffs include some of the same unions and nonprofits that previously sued the Trump administration for mass firing of probationary employees in federal court in San Francisco. In that case, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the OPM illegally instructed six federal agencies to terminate recent hires and newly promoted individuals, ordering the reinstatement of over 16,000 workers. The Supreme Court later vacated the reinstatement order but has not yet ruled on the legality of the firings.
The new lawsuit contends that the executive order issued by Trump on February 11, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative,” oversteps Congress’s constitutional authority. The plaintiffs argue that since the nation’s founding, federal courts have recognized that federal agencies are established by Congress, not the president.
Despite these actions, Congress, led by Trump’s Republican allies, has been largely silent as the administration dismisses federal workers, shuts down programs, and closes federal buildings. President Trump has described these measures as necessary for restoring accountability and claims he has a mandate from the American people to eliminate government waste and inefficiency.
The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to nullify Trump’s executive order and related memos from the OMB and OPM. They also aim to invalidate the agencies’ reduction in force (RIF) plans, arguing that the rapid timeline imposed didn’t allow for compliance with legal requirements.
The lawsuit also challenges Musk’s DOGE, which is overseeing workforce reductions across government agencies. The plaintiffs note that Congress has not granted DOGE statutory power, arguing that it lacks authority to mandate staffing or budget cuts.
The White House has not yet responded to NPR’s request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
