Federal Judge Rules Trump DHS Plan for 50% FEMA Staffing Cuts Was Unlawful
NewsData.io · United States · Sep 13, 2026
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's plan to cut FEMA staffing by 50% violated post-Hurricane Katrina laws that place staffing decisions within FEMA's own authority, not DHS. The ruling came in a broader lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees challenging federal workforce reductions. Although the 50% cuts were never fully implemented, FEMA lost over 4,300 employees — about 17% of its workforce — in fiscal year 2025, with the GAO warning of significant institutional knowledge loss. The court directed both sides to negotiate a remedy, and FEMA has already begun rehiring some terminated staff.
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