On Tuesday in a preliminary decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Administration’s plan to strip multiple government agencies of federal workers. In a distinction, the Court did not rule on the legality of the action. Still, this decision allows the continuation of the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen issued a statement late Tuesday condemning the preliminary judgment:
“Without ruling on the merits, the Supreme Court just gave initial approval for the Trump Administration to move forward on indiscriminately firing thousands of federal workers and decimating essential public services that the American people rely on and that keep our communities safe – from Social Security to food inspections to severe weather forecasting to our diplomatic operations. As Justice Jackson put it in her dissent, ‘this was the wrong decision at the wrong moment, especially given what little this Court knows about what is actually happening on the ground.’ She is right. The Court’s decision to allow this damage to be done before ruling on the merits shows how detached they are from the reality of the moment. Make no mistake, the Trump Administration’s plan isn’t about efficiency, it’s about rigging the government to only benefit the wealthy and powerful special interests. We are not done fighting in Congress, in the courts, and in our communities to defend the dedicated public servants who go to work on behalf of the American people day in and day out.”
The state of Maryland counts an estimated quarter of a million plus federal workers or contractors as its residents. Last month, CNN reported more than 128,000 federal employees had been fired, placed on administrative leave or targeted for layoffs.
