Lawsuit claims Trump’s government reorganization violates constitutional separation of powers
California – A coalition of local governments, labor unions, and nonprofit organizations has filed in federal court a far-reaching legal challenge claiming the Trump Administration has unconstitutionally sought to fundamentally change the federal government.
The coalition, spearheaded by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu and Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti, filed suit in the Northern District of California on April 28. Executive Order 14210, issued by President Donald Trump, which calls for a significant cut in federal employment and a wide reorganization of government departments, is at the center of the issue. The complaint contends that by skipping Congress, the only body with power to implement such far-reaching reforms, these acts breach the U.S. Constitution.
“President Trump’s complete disregard for the rule of law has had incredibly harmful impacts on local communities,” said Chiu. “The Constitution’s separation of powers was intended to prevent the abuse of presidential authority, yet here Trump is ignoring checks and balances and trying to act as both President and Congress.”
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The lawsuit identifies multiple federal agencies as involved in the illegal reorganization attempt: the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the newly constituted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Executive Order 14210 has already resulted in thousands of government positions eliminated across important agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The lawsuit claims these reductions have caused staffing chaos in agencies in charge of public health, environmental protection, disaster response, and small business support. From wildfire response to combating homelessness and disease outbreak prevention, local governments such as San Francisco and Santa Clara County contend the cuts are already taxing their own capacity to deliver essential services.
“The Trump Administration’s unconstitutional actions to reduce the size of the federal government are directly impacting millions of public employees, state and local governments, and all those who rely on government services,” said Santa Clara County Counsel Tony LoPresti.
“These actions hit home right here in the Bay Area by making it harder for local governments to respond to emergencies like wildfires and earthquakes, reducing resources to combat homelessness, eliminating public health programs that help prevent the spread of disease, and undermining vital collaboration between local and federal government in dozens of other operational areas,” LoPresti added.
Among the plaintiffs in the case are a broad coalition of national labor unions including AFGE, AFSCME, and SEIU as well as advocacy groups including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the American Public Health Association, and VoteVets. Joining the lawsuit from other cities and counties are King County in Washington state, Harris County in Texas, Baltimore, Chicago, and many more.
The coalition wants court intervention to stop the implementation of the executive order along with additional agency reorganization until appropriate congressional permission is acquired. Democracy Forward, Protect Democracy, the Public Rights Project, and other legal advocacy organizations are handling legal counsel for several plaintiffs.
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One of the most important legal battles to executive power in recent years, AFGE v. Trump, highlights increasing opposition among local and state officials to what they perceive as an unparalleled federal government overreach.
