A federal judge has ruled that a plan by the Trump administration to cut staffing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by 50% was unlawful, marking a victory for labor groups who sued the agency.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston stated in an opinion issued Friday that top Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials directed FEMA leadership to submit a staffing plan including a 50% cut, even though the agency's supervisors objected. Illston wrote that the number for the FEMA staffing plan "appears as if pulled from thin air" and that the government violated rules established after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. These rules placed staffing level decisions with FEMA, not DHS, and prevented DHS from substantially reducing FEMA's functions.
The issue was part of a broader lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and other labor groups challenging the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce.
Although FEMA experienced some terminations, the 50% staffing cuts were ultimately not implemented. In recent months, following changes in leadership at FEMA and DHS, the agency has rehired some of the staff who were let go.
FEMA was among the federal agencies targeted for staff reductions as part of a wider Trump administration initiative to shrink the size of the government. The agency had previously faced mass staff departures, disruptions to grant programs, and delays in disaster aid.
In May, a FEMA Review Council submitted a final report recommending changes to how the agency supports states, tribes, and territories during disasters. This final version did not include the 50% workforce cut that was present in a December 2025 draft reviewed by The Associated Press. Instead, the council recommended a "strategic review" to determine appropriate staffing levels.
A report in August by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the departure of thousands of staff in 2025 had resulted in a "loss of institutional knowledge and experienced personnel" and "exacerbated longstanding workforce challenges." The GAO noted that more than 4,300 employees, about 17% of FEMA's workforce, separated from the agency in the 2025 budget year, with over 1,500 through voluntary reductions. The agency also made approximately 2,900 new hires during that period.
The GAO recommended that Congress "consider requiring" FEMA to base "significant workforce decisions" on a more strategic planning process to ensure the agency is positioned to effectively meet its mission needs.
Judge Illston did not order a specific remedy but directed the parties to meet and decide on a course of relief. DHS and FEMA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.