A federal court has put the brakes on the Trump administration’s plan to overhaul the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), ruling that the government cannot move ahead with its proposed restructuring while concerns over the use of public funds remain unresolved.
The decision, issued by the US District Court for the Northern District of California, marks a setback for President Donald Trump’s broader effort to reshape the federal government. It also delivers a win for labour unions that challenged the plan, arguing that the changes could disrupt essential agricultural and public services.
Judge Vince Chhabria found that the department was redirecting money approved by Congress for purposes different from those originally intended. The ruling questioned whether the USDA could use its allocated funds to close offices and relocate employees as part of the restructuring.
“Congress did not contemplate USDA using its appropriated funds to shut down offices or relocate employees,” Chhabria wrote in his order.
The injunction covers planned changes across several key USDA divisions, including the Agricultural Research Service, Forest Service and Food and Nutrition Administration, among other agencies.
Relocation plan faces judicial roadblock
The restructuring initiative included plans to relocate approximately 2,600 employees from the Washington region and consolidate offices in different parts of the country. The administration has presented the changes as part of its wider effort to reorganise the federal workforce and operations.
However, USDA employees had raised concerns that the scale of the proposed changes could trigger widespread staff departures, undermining the department’s ability to carry out its responsibilities.
Officials warned that disruptions could affect agricultural research, international trade, foreign assistance, nutrition programmes and other services dependent on the department’s work.
The unions challenging the initiative argued that the reorganisation threatened the effective functioning of an agency responsible for a broad range of national programmes.
USDA reviewing the court order
The department said it was examining the ruling and would submit its response to the court.
Patrick Moran, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, welcomed the decision, accusing the administration of pursuing an unlawful effort to weaken the agency.
He said the court had, for the time being, prevented the government from advancing what the union considers a reckless restructuring plan.
The ruling adds another obstacle to the administration’s efforts to reorganise federal agencies. For now, the USDA must halt the affected changes as the legal challenge moves forward, leaving the future of the department’s proposed restructuring uncertain.
