White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is firing back at activist judges who are standing in the way of draining the swamp. The Trump administration faces yet another judicial roadblock in its mission to cut government waste and hold bureaucrats accountable for their performance.
At a glance:
• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized “low-level judges” for blocking President Trump’s dismissal of probationary federal workers
• U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered the Trump administration to re-hire thousands of dismissed probationary workers
• The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has identified $115 billion in potential savings for taxpayers
• Significant workforce reductions include a 50% cut at the Department of Education and a 95% reduction at USAID
• Leavitt argues the judicial injunction is unconstitutional and promised the administration will appeal
Trump Administration Hits Judicial Roadblock
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a blistering critique of what she calls activist judges interfering with President Trump’s efforts to streamline the federal government. Her fiery comments came in response to a recent court ruling that blocked the administration from dismissing underperforming probationary workers across federal agencies.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, issued an injunction requiring the Trump administration to rehire thousands of probationary federal employees who were let go as part of the president’s government efficiency initiative. The judicial interference represents another example of the court system attempting to obstruct President Trump’s America First agenda.
DOGE’s Mission to Cut Government Waste
President Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as part of his commitment to reducing the bloated federal workforce and cutting unnecessary costs. The initiative has already made significant progress in reducing government waste, with a 50% reduction in staff at the Department of Education and an impressive 95% cut at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
DOGE has identified approximately $115 billion in potential savings, which would translate to roughly $714.29 per American taxpayer if fully implemented. These efforts to reduce government size and waste have naturally faced resistance from entrenched bureaucrats and their allies in the judicial system who seek to preserve the status quo.
Leavitt emphasized the unprecedented frequency of injunctions against the Trump administration compared to previous administrations. She assured reporters that the administration would appeal the decision and continue fighting to reduce government waste despite these judicial obstacles.
It does appear that federal courts are directly interfering in legitimate executive and political decisions that have, before now, been seen as squarely within the authority of the presidency.
Constitutional Showdown Brewing
During her press briefing, Leavitt didn’t mince words about the administration’s view of Judge Alsup’s ruling. She characterized the injunction as “absurd” and an unconstitutional overreach of judicial power that interferes with the executive branch’s authority to manage the federal workforce.
The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between President Trump’s mandate to reform government and activist judges who seek to preserve bureaucratic power. Legal experts anticipate the case will eventually reach higher courts as the administration pursues its appeal and fights to restore managerial authority over federal agencies.
Trump supporters see this latest judicial intervention as further evidence of the “deep state” working to undermine the president’s reform agenda. The administration remains committed to its promise of making government more efficient and accountable to the American people despite these obstacles.
