SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings

The Trump administration can conduct mass firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled

People holding banners chant during a rally outside Jacob K. Javits Federal Building against the firings of thousands of federal workers
People protesting outside the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building against the firings of thousands of federal workers
(Image credit: Mostafa Bassim / Anadolu via Getty Images)

What happened

The Supreme Court Tuesday ruled that the Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission. The decision lifts a lower court's block on an executive order President Donald Trump issued in February aimed at "eliminating waste, bloat, and insularity" across government and paves the way for thousands of workers to be cut from multiple departments.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.