SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court has put a pause on President Donald Trump’s plans for mass layoffs within the federal government, ruling Friday that his directives exceed his constitutional authority.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked an earlier lower court’s decision that temporarily halted layoffs ordered by the Trump administration at numerous federal agencies. This development marks a significant obstacle in Trump’s attempt to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce. Since May 9, when U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled against the sweeping terminations, the administration’s efforts have been in limbo.

In a 2-1 opinion, the appeals court argued that the executive order in question overstepped the President’s powers as defined in the Constitution. The court’s majority expressed confidence that the parties challenging the layoffs would likely prevail in their arguments that the terminations were unlawful. Furthermore, the administration failed to provide sufficient justification for emergency action to reverse Judge Illston’s ruling.

The legal battle has seen a series of twists, with Trump previously seeking intervention from the Supreme Court, which was initially unsuccessful. Legal experts suggest that the case may eventually find its way back to the high court.

White House spokesman Harrison Fields criticized the ruling, claiming that a single judge was infringing upon the executive branch’s authority. Fields stated that the administration plans to continue fighting against what they see as judicial overreach, asserting that the President rightly holds authority over federal operations.

The case originated from a coalition of federal employee unions, local governments, and advocacy groups who contested the February executive order mandating extensive government restructuring. They alleged that directives from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) were effectively sidelining proposals for less drastic cuts. This raised concerns over the legality of the planned layoffs.

The previous lower court order blocking the layoffs covers nearly all Cabinet-level departments, including Defense, Energy, and Homeland Security. The appeals court emphasized that while Congress granted agencies the authority to enact significant layoffs, it did not extend that same power to the President.

The majority opinion, authored by Senior Circuit Judge William Fletcher, highlighted that such large-scale reorganization of federal agencies requires congressional approval. This view was supported by Circuit Judge Lucy Koh, another member of the majority, both appointees from previous Democratic administrations. However, Judge Consuelo María Callahan, appointed by a Republican President, dissented, arguing that the President does possess the authority to direct agencies regarding reductions in force.

The groups contesting Trump’s directives expressed satisfaction with the appeals court’s decision. They are hopeful that the ruling will prevent the implementation of damaging layoffs and allow the legal proceedings to unfold more fully.