A diverse coalition of labor unions, nonprofits, and local government entities, including cities like Chicago and Baltimore as well as Harris County, Texas, has initiated the broadest legal challenge against President Trump’s extensive overhaul of the federal government.
The lawsuit, filed late Monday, accuses President Trump, Elon Musk, and heads of nearly two dozen federal agencies of enacting significant downsizing of the federal workforce without proper authorization from Congress, thereby violating the Constitution.
“Three months into this Administration, there can be no real doubt that impacted federal agencies are acting according to the direction being given by President Trump through DOGE, OMB, and OPM,” reads the lawsuit, referencing the efficiency team spearheaded by Musk, alongside the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The plaintiffs, many of whom previously challenged the administration over its mass firings of probationary employees, assert that the newly appointed agency heads are reorganizing, eliminating programs, and cutting thousands of jobs as a direct result of orders from the President and guidance from DOGE.
This recently filed complaint delves deeper into legal arguments, claiming that Trump’s February 11 executive order to implement the Workforce Optimization Initiative infringes on Congress’s authority protected by the Constitution.
Historically, federal courts have recognized that federal agencies are established by Congress, not the President, which limits Trump’s ability to enact sweeping changes in the structure of the federal workforce.
Despite the drastic measures taken by the administration, Congress, led by Republican supporters of Trump, has remained largely silent on the issues of federal worker firings and program terminations.
President Trump has defended his actions by asserting they aim to restore accountability in government and maintain that his mandate from the American people, endorsed during the 2024 election, is to eliminate inefficiencies and fraud.
Claiming irreparable harm, the plaintiffs request that the court vacate Trump’s executive order, along with associated directives issued to federal agencies by OMB and OPM on how to implement the order.
They argue that the expedited timeline—merely weeks—set by the Trump administration for agencies to submit reduction in force (RIF) plans does not allow for adequate compliance with the necessary statutory and regulatory processes.
The lawsuit specifically targets Musk’s DOGE, noting that unlike either OMB or OPM, Congress has not granted DOGE any statutory authority.
The plaintiffs assert, “DOGE has no authority at all to dictate to the agencies created and governed by Congress any level of staffing cut or spending reduction.”
The White House has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding this lawsuit, indicating that the administration is still formulating its strategy to address this emerging legal challenge.
As the lawsuit progresses, its implications could shape not only the future of the federal workforce but also the balance of power between the executive branch and Congress when it comes to significant governmental restructuring.
image source from：https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5380783/trump-doge-lawsuit-federal-workers-cities
