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US judge rules that Trump plan to halve FEMA workforce violated law
CNBC • • nation
Key Points:
- A U.S. District Judge ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully ordered FEMA to cut its workforce in half by usurping the agency's authority over its personnel, violating a federal law protecting FEMA's independence.
- The ruling sided with unions who sued over the administration's move to stop renewing contracts for thousands of FEMA reservists, stating there was no evidence of reasoned decision-making behind the cuts.
- The judge did not impose remedies or penalties in the ruling but indicated these would be addressed in a future decision, allowing parties to submit briefs on appropriate relief.
- The Trump administration argued FEMA has flexibility in staffing, with President Trump previously suggesting FEMA should be abolished and emergency preparedness shifted to states.
- The judge also criticized FEMA and DHS officials for deleting relevant messages on the Signal app, presuming these lost communications would have been unfavorable to the defendants.
