"The Trump administration on Friday vowed to comply with a judge's order to halt any layoffs caught up in a court-ordered pause on such reductions, though it left the door open to cuts of personnel not currently party to the lawsuit. Just one agency-the Interior Department-revealed it was planning imminent layoffs, with other agencies saying only that they would comply with the order not to carry out the subset of cuts that are now prohibited."
"Interior Department officials say they plan to "abolish positions" in 68 "competitive areas," referring to the groupings of workers agencies must create before engaging in RIFs. Interior has around 1,500 competitive areas, according to a list obtained by Government Executive, though the size of each varies and the number of employees expected to be impacted by the cuts was not clear as of Friday."
"The department agreed to pause any layoff notices for workers represented by the American Federation of Government Employees or the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the two unions that brought the lawsuit. The plaintiffs on Friday filed an amended complaint seeking to add the National Treasury Employees Union, the National Federation of Federal Employees and other groups to the case to ensure protection for those workers as well. The judge on the case scheduled an emergency hearing for Friday evening."
Federal agencies disclosed layoff plans while acknowledging a court-ordered temporary restraining order that blocks new reductions in force affecting employees covered by the lawsuit. The Interior Department announced plans to abolish positions in 68 competitive areas and has draft RIF notification letters prepared for affected unions. The department paused any layoff notices for workers represented by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint seeking to add the National Treasury Employees Union, the National Federation of Federal Employees and other groups to extend protections. A judge scheduled an emergency hearing as agencies navigate which personnel can still be cut outside the scope of the restraining order.
Read at Nextgov.com
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