Trump Must Reveal Agency Layoff Plans, But Not Publicly (1)

Federal agencies under the Trump administration must provide sealed copies of their reduction in force plans to a California federal judge and the attorneys suing the administration over its efforts to drastically reduce the federal workforce.

Judge Susan Illston in a Friday ruling said at this early stage of the case she would not require the administration to publicly reveal its Agency Reduction in Force and Reorganization Plans, known as ARRPs, although she noted that the “information at issue is of grave public concern.”

She did order agencies to publicly produce a list of 40 reduction in force plans, known as RIFs, from 17 federal agencies. RIFs detail the more specific process of laying off employees at agencies.

The administration has fought to keep the RIF plans secret since Illston first ordered their production in May, arguing that it shouldn’t be compelled to publicly reveal documents that reflect the government’s decision-making process.

Illston’s ruling for the US District Court for the Northern District of California comes after the US Supreme Court earlier this month paused her sweeping injunction order that prohibited the administration from engaging in widespread layoffs.

The judge noted in her decision Friday that some of the RIF plans may be predecisional—which could preclude them from the court’s discovery process—but held that it’s necessary for her and the parties’ lawyers to have access to them in order to discuss their legality.

Withholding the documents further would “hinder frank and independent discussion,” she said.

This is the most expansive challenge to Trump’s efforts to slash the size of the federal workforce, and the merits of Illston’s PI are still pending before a federal appeals panel.

Since the high court paused the injunction, the administration has laid off thousands of workers at the departments of State, Health and Human Services, and Education.

The plaintiffs are represented by Altshuler Berzon LLP, the Democracy Forward Foundation, and the American Federation of Government Employees. The government is represented by the Justice Department.

The case is AFGE v. Trump, N.D. Cal., No. 3:25-cv-03698, 7/18/25.