Special Edition: The Federal Employee Briefing for May 10, 2025
Brought to you by Southworth PC—Attorneys for Federal Employees
Our online community now tops 150,000 federal workers and supporters across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Each briefing distills the day’s most consequential developments, adds clear-eyed legal analysis, and pairs it with mindfulness tools that keep you steady no matter how turbulent the news cycle becomes. If this newsletter helps you stay informed, please pass it on: https://fedlegalhelp.com/newsletter. Your advocacy broadens the protective circle for every federal employee.
Judge Freezes Federal Layoffs: Immediate Relief, Big Questions Ahead
Late last night U.S. District Judge Susan Illston formally issued a two-week temporary restraining order stopping the Trump administration’s mass-layoff plan. Her 42-page order in AFGE v. Trump holds that the February executive order “likely violates the Constitution” because large-scale agency overhauls require congressional approval. The ruling pauses all new Reduction-in-Force (RIF) actions, program closures, and related separations at more than two dozen agencies until at least May 23. Bloomberg Law
Legal insight:
For employees who already received a RIF notice but are not yet separated, agencies must suspend the effective date. Priority placement, bump-and-retreat, and recall registers are frozen as well. Probationary employees are covered if their termination is RIF-based; performance or conduct removals are unaffected. The Justice Department has already noticed an appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Judge Illston set a May 22 deadline for both sides to brief a preliminary injunction that could extend protection for months. If you hold a “competitive service” appointment, keep every notice and track the revised timelines—agencies will likely issue modified letters once the court clarifies next steps. Expect guidance from OPM early next week; we’ll analyze it for you Monday.
Live Q&A today at 11 a.m. ET.
I’ll break down the order, answer case-specific questions, and outline strategies to safeguard your position. Members can join at https://fedlegalhelp.com/session16. Not a member? Start a free three-day trial (only $19/month afterward) at https://fedlegalhelp.com/join.
Quick links for deeper reading:
— New York Times: “Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Plans for Mass Layoffs and Program Closures." NYTimes
— Bloomberg Law: “Trump Must Halt Mass Layoffs of Federal Workers, Judge Rules” (Daily Labor Report). Bloomberg Law
— Court docket and order PDF (CourtListener). CourtListener
— The Order from Democracy Forward. Democracy Forward
We’ll return to our regular Monday newsletter with any fresh news. Until then, stay steady—this pause is real and enforceable. See some of you at the live session, and everyone have a restorative weekend.
Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Southworth PC provides these insights to help federal employees better understand their rights and navigate workplace developments, but every situation is unique. If you are facing a specific employment issue, you should consult a qualified attorney to discuss the facts of your case. While we aim to ensure the accuracy of legal interpretations at the time of publication, changes in law or policy may affect how the information applies to your circumstances. We’re proud to stand with federal employees—and we’re here when it matters most.
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