Court Orders Release of Federal RIF Plans | JQJO

A federal judge is ordering the release of agency RIF plans following a Supreme Court ruling allowing broad agency reorganization and staff reductions. Union attorneys argued the plans, impacting 40 agencies, are crucial for challenging the legality of impending staff cuts. The judge, after reviewing some plans, believes they are not shielded by deliberative process privilege and must be disclosed. While the Supreme Court upheld the administration's authority to reduce staff, it didn't address the legality of individual plans, leaving room for further legal challenges. Individual workers facing RIFs still have recourse through the Merit Systems Protection Board.