Trump administration accused of sidestepping court rulings amid spree of legal losses

The Trump administration continued to face setbacks in court this week over its efforts to drastically downsize the government, while plaintiffs in some of the cases accused the government of trying to sidestep judicial orders.
The Trump administration continued to face setbacks in court this week over its efforts to drastically downsize the government, while plaintiffs in some of the cases accused the government of trying to sidestep judicial orders.
A federal judge in California found a U.S. Office of Personnel Management memo that directed the firing of thousands of probationary employees was unlawful and should be rescinded, while another in Washington, D.C., ordered the restoration of foreign aid that was supposed to be freed weeks ago.
The plaintiffs — and the judge — in the foreign aid case have accused the government of continued stonewalling, while plaintiffs in cases involving the suspension of refugee program funding charged the administration is failing to fully comply with court orders.
Here’s a look at the swirl of legal developments over the past week.
A federal judge in California on Thursday ordered OPM to rescind a memo and email telling agencies to get rid of probationary employees. The directions, communicated in a Jan. 20 memo and Feb. 14 internal email, are “illegal” and “should be stopped, rescinded,” Judge William Alsup said.
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