A US federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from restricting the renewal of contracts for thousands of temporary workers supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by labour groups representing federal workers, which challenged the administration’s decision to stop renewing several FEMA contracts. These temporary workers are deployed to support communities affected by hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other disasters.
The court also questioned the administration’s plans for FEMA’s workforce. The agency is projecting a workforce of 11,383 employees for the coming fiscal year, roughly half its previous level. The court found that the administration had not provided sufficient justification for the proposed workforce size or its decision to limit FEMA’s ability to renew contracts.
The case also examines whether the administration’s actions are consistent with federal law governing FEMA. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress strengthened the agency’s independence and established legal protections against substantial reductions in its authority, responsibilities or functions.
The ruling comes amid the Trump administration’s broader efforts to reduce the size of the US federal workforce. The administration has also questioned FEMA’s role in disaster management and advocated for greater responsibility for states in disaster preparedness and response.
The court has not yet ordered the administration to reverse the workforce cuts or imposed penalties. Those issues are expected to be considered separately in a decision next month.
