Federal judge allows Trump administration to continue mass layoffs

A federal judge has authorized the administration of US President Donald Trump to continue mass layoffs. This was reported by CBS News on February 20.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, appointed by former U.S. President Barack Obama, said unions should seek resolution of their legal challenges under the scheme established by Congress in the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, which governs labor relations in the federal workforce.

The lawsuits must be filed with the Federal Labor Relations Authority, he said.

It is specified that the five unions representing federal workers have asked Cooper to issue an order that would temporarily prevent: firing people on probation, implementing widespread reductions in force throughout the government and restarting the president's "deferred retirement program."

The judge noted that the first month of the Trump administration has been marked by an onslaught of executive actions that have caused disruption and even chaos in large segments of American society.

"Federal district judges have a duty to decide legal questions based on the impartial application of law and precedent - regardless of the identity of the litigants or, unfortunately sometimes, the consequences of their decisions on ordinary people", Cooper said.

On the same day, it was reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to fire generals and admirals who disagree with Trump. According to officials, most of those targeted expressed views that Trump's allies considered politically inconsistent with the agenda or were closely associated with former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. At the same time, the media reported on the US Internal Revenue Service's plans to lay off about 6,000 employees.