Trump Gets Ninth Circuit Break From Order on Layoff Plans (2)

The Trump administration got a reprieve from a California federal judge’s order requiring agencies to turn over sealed copies of their reduction-in-force plans, part of the administration’s campaign to radically shrink the federal workforce.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted the administration’s request for an immediate stay ahead of the government’s Wednesday deadline to submit the RIF plans.

The Ninth Circuit’s ruling deals another blow to the American Federation of Government Employees and other groups challenging President Donald Trump’s drastic downsizing effort after they won in district court.

Judge Susan Illston had ordered the production of the RIF plans after the US Supreme Court paused her sweeping injunction that prohibited the administration from engaging in widespread layoffs.

The administration has resisted revealing the workforce reduction plans since Illston first ordered their production in May, arguing that it shouldn’t be compelled to publicly reveal documents that reflect the government’s decision-making process.

Illston’s July 18 order called for the court and the attorneys for AFGE and the other plaintiffs to get sealed copies of the proposed cuts, rather than making them publicly available.

The Ninth Circuit paused Illston’s directive Tuesday in a brief, unsigned order from Judges William Fletcher and Johnnie Rawlinson, both Clinton appointees, and Judge Sandra Ikuta, a George W. Bush appointee.

The Justice Department declined to comment. AFGE didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The plaintiffs are represented by AFGE, Altshuler Berzon LLP, and the Democracy Forward Foundation. The government is represented by the Justice Department.

The case is AFGE v. Trump, 9th Cir., No. 25-4476, 7/22/25.