First Circuit weighs Trump bid to gut trio of government agencies
A federal appeals court grilled the Trump administration on Wednesday over its bid to overturn a ruling that stopped it from gutting three small federal agencies the administration considered “unnecessary.”
TL;DR
- A federal appeals court questioned the Trump administration's efforts to reverse a ruling against its plan to significantly reduce three federal agencies.
- The administration's March 2025 executive order aimed to cut the Minority Business and Development Agency, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to minimum levels.
- A federal district court had previously blocked the executive order, ruling it unlawful.
- The DOJ argued the government should be allowed to reduce agency workforces and grants, while opposing states claimed the order amounted to an unlawful closure.
- The 1st Circuit panel, which has a liberal leaning, heard arguments from both sides but did not indicate when a decision would be made.