On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a temporary administrative stay that allows former President Donald Trump to proceed—for now—with plans to reorganize and reduce staffing across 19 federal agencies. The legal dispute centers on the president’s authority to initiate large-scale changes without congressional approval. A lower court ruling had blocked the plans, stating that broad reorganizations defy Congress’s mandates unless conducted collaboratively with lawmakers. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a rare dissent, harshly criticizing the stay as misguided and harmful, while the administration argued the Constitution grants the president full control over federal staffing under Article II.
The case has prompted alarm among unions, nonprofit groups, and cities such as Chicago and Baltimore, which argue the potential downsizing could dismantle critical government programs. The coalition challenging the executive order warns that services vital to Americans may be severely compromised if these changes move forward unchecked. While the Supreme Court clarified its stay does not assess the legality of each individual agency’s plan, critics fear the decision signals an erosion of democratic checks and balances in favor of unilateral presidential action.