Where Things Stand
-
Ruling on job cuts: A federal district court judge in Washington denied a request by unions to block the Trump administration’s effort to drastically reduce the size of the federal work force. Even as the judge allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its downsizing efforts, he signaled significant concern in his ruling. Read more ›
-
Federal agency cuts: The I.R.S. began laying off more than 6,000 employees. The C.I.A. is moving to dismiss an unspecified number of officers working on recruiting and diversity issues, according to former officials, in what could be one of the largest mass firings in the agency’s history. The Transportation Security Administration fired 243 probationary employees. Four agencies were ordered to reduce their work and personnel to the minimum required by law. And an arm of the Housing and Urban Development Department that helps rebuild homes after disasters is set to cut more than 80 percent of its staff.
-
F.B.I. leader: The Senate confirmed Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist with a long history of attacking the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to oversee the bureau on a 51-49 vote. Democrats had hoped to slow or stall the president’s polarizing pick, but ultimately just two Republicans joined them in voting against Mr. Patel. Read more ›
-
McConnell to retire: Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the longest-serving leader in Senate history when he left the post in November, announced that he would not seek another term in 2026. Mr. McConnell, who turned 83 on Thursday, established himself as a master tactician during the 18 years he spent leading his party in the Senate, repeatedly blocking major Democratic agenda items. Read more ›
A federal judge on Thursday denied an effort by labor unions to block the Trump administration’s effort to drastically reduce the size of the federal workforce, allowing the mass firings happening across multiple agencies to proceed.
In the ruling, Judge Christopher R. Cooper, a U.S. District Court judge in Washington, signaled that he was concerned about the upheaval caused by the Trump administration’s actions. But he did not address the legality of the downsizing efforts, writing that the federal court was not the right venue for the dispute.
“The first month of President Trump’s second administration has been defined by an onslaught of executive actions that have caused, some say by design, disruption and even chaos in widespread quarters of American society,” Judge Cooper wrote.
Still, he said, “federal district judges are duty-bound to decide legal issues based on even-handed application of law and precedent—no matter the identity of the litigants or, regrettably at times, the consequences of their rulings for average people.”
Judge Cooper said that he was denying the unions’ request that he block the Trump administration from continuing its downsizing efforts because the matter should be first addressed with the agency that adjudicates labor disputes between federal employee unions and management, known as the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
Judge Cooper noted that if the unions lose in that venue, they could resume their court battle through the federal court of appeals.
Judge Cooper’s ruling in the case was similar to one that was made in a separate case last week by a judge in Massachusetts. In that case, the judge agreed labor unions representing federal workers did not have standing to challenge the Trump administration’s actions in federal court.
President Trump announced on Thursday that he was naming Alice Johnson, whose life sentence he commuted during his first term, as his “pardon czar” to advise him on criminal justice issues.
Mr. Trump announced Ms. Johnson’s appointment during a reception celebrating Black History Month at the White House, which Ms. Johnson attended. Kim Kardashian, the reality TV star, helped bring attention to her drug conviction during Mr. Trump’s first term in office.
