A new legal filing in AFGE’s ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration’s effort to unlawfully reorganize the federal government seeks to prevent mass staff departures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would leave the department unable to fulfill its essential functions.
The latest filing is in response to recently implemented actions to disrupt USDA by forcing office relocations and mass resignations at the department.
Earlier this year, USDA began taking action to implement a Reorganization Plan that would restructure and downsize the agency across many different issue areas and sub-agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Food and Nutrition Administration, Agricultural Research Service, Economic Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Farm Production and Conservation mission area (which include the Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service), Rural Development mission area, and the Foreign Agricultural Service.
USDA sought authorization for the actions in this Reorganization Plan through the budget process for fiscal 2026. However, Congress not only rejected this process, but additionally specifically directed USDA not to take actions restructuring the agency or downsizing staff without further congressional approval. USDA has not obtained such approval. Still, USDA officials are continuing to push forward with an unlawful Reorganization Plan, implementing actions that have harmed and will continue to harm USDA employees impacted by the restructuring and the farmers, families, and communities who rely on them to execute USDA’s mission.
“USDA employees keep our food safe, stand behind our farmers, make sure our children are fed, and keep thousands of American businesses running. They live and work in communities all across this country. This administration keeps showing it won’t look out for Americans, pushing an unlawful reorganization of USDA that would gut the workforce our country depends on,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “AFGE is proud that these public servants have a collective voice through AFGE, and we are proud to help lead the fight to stop this unlawful reorganization. No administration gets to break the law to dismantle an agency that feeds this nation.”
AFGE and our sister union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), are lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was first filed in April 2025 and includes a broad coalition of nationwide labor unions, nonprofit organizations, and cities and counties from across the country. The new complaint, filed July 1, adds three additional plaintiffs, bringing the total to 31.
The new filings include a supplemental complaint and a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the USDA’s unlawful reorganization and restructuring actions.
The coalition is represented in the case by lead co-counsel Democracy Forward and Altshuler Berzon LLP, along with Protect Democracy, Public Rights Project, Democracy Defenders Fund, and counsel for local governments.
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A new legal filing in AFGE’s ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration’s effort to unlawfully reorganize the federal government seeks to prevent mass staff departures from the USDA.
Read More
