Judge blocks Trump administration from sacking 2,200 USAID employees

Washington – A federal judge said Friday he will prevent the Trump administration from placing 2,200 employees US International Development Agency or US Agency for International Developmentduring administrative holidays, stationed with the trade union and currently represents employees.

Judge Carl Nichols of the District Court of Columbia, appointed as a judge in court in 2019, said in court that he would approve a limited temporary restraining order which would take effect at midnight. He also said he would decide whether to restore the 500 workers who have been on leave. He said details about the pause will be set in the upcoming file.

He said the unions — the American Diplomatic Services Association and the American Government Employees Federation — were sure they would suffer “irreparable harm” without stopping, and the government would not suffer. “Frankly, the short-term pause has caused zero damage to the government,” Nichols said on the bench.

At a hearing Friday afternoon, the plaintiff asked the court to immediately suspend the evacuation order issued to U.S. Agency personnel in the International Post and visit the computer systems of people in various regions of U.S. Agency and its contractors.

The government acknowledged that 2,200 USAID employees would take leave at midnight, banning court lawsuits, excluding 500 other people who had already taken leave before today. Six hundred and eleven key personnel will remain at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the government added that it has no plans to lower that number.

Plaintiff’s lawyers believe that the significant reduction in force, evacuation and evacuation of people from work and houses is a violation of the separation of power and Congressional appropriations. They say families are being separated and children of U.S.A.I.D. employees are evacuating from schools around the world. According to the union, staff have been cut off from access to health care, and many have to return to states without housing or income sources.

“This is a comprehensive pollution of almost all staff in the agency,” said the attorney for the U.S.A. employee, adding that it was a “slaughter” by the U.S.A.'s labor force and contractors.

Nichols imposed urging on government lawyers for the need to place employees on Friday night's leave, as acting head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). One lawyer replied: “I don't think Minister Rubio needs to provide one.”

Nichols urged administration lawyers to elaborate on their “discovery”, which President Trump and his allies say exists in the institution. The lawyer did not respond. The judge also questioned the government's framework for Rubio, who was able to control the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the Secretary of State (rather than the acting executive) because it was an independent the institution.

Nichols' decision to block employees from placing leave comes hours after seeing workers removed signage at the U.S. International Development Headquarters in downtown Washington.