Supreme Court clears way for mass federal layoffs

Thousands of jobs at risk as conservative judges back Donald Trump’s bid to downsize ‘bloated’ bureaucracy, write John Kruzel, Nandita Bose and Tim Reid

- John Kruzel, Nandita Bose and Tim Reid

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for Donald Trump’s administration to pursue mass government job cuts and the sweeping downsizing of numerous agencies, a decision that could lead to tens of thousands of layoffs while dramatically reshaping the federal bureaucracy.

Tuesday's ruling stemmed from an executive order Mr Trump issued in February ordering agencies to prepare for mass layoffs. At Mr Trump's direction, the administration has come up with plans to reduce staff at the US Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, State, Treasury, Veterans Affairs and more than a dozen other agencies.

In a brief unsigned order, the court said the Trump administration was “likely to succeed” in its argument that his directives were legally within his power.

The decision is the latest win for Mr Trump's broader efforts to consolidate power in the executive branch. The Supreme Court has sided with Mr Trump in several cases on an emergency basis since he returned to office in January, including clearing the way for implementation of some of his hardline immigration policies.