California Attorney General Rob Bonta has responded to a court's decision to grant a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Trump Administration's mass firing of federal workers. The TRO, issued on Thursday, prevents these layoffs from proceeding until a preliminary injunction is considered on May 22, 2025. This legal action was supported by Bonta and a coalition of 21 attorneys general through an amicus brief in the case American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, et al. v. Trump.
Attorney General Bonta expressed his views on the situation: “The Trump Administration is attempting to bring the federal government — and the vital services and programs Americans rely on — to a screeching halt.” He added that while the TRO won't reverse previous damage, it emphasizes that "The President does not hold the power to illegally fire anyone he wants."
These large-scale layoffs are seen as detrimental to states' abilities to serve their residents effectively, posing risks to public health and safety by affecting state programs related to emergency response, infrastructure repair, environmental protection, and more.
Bonta has been active in opposing what he describes as illegal efforts by the Trump Administration to dismantle federal operations through mass firings. This week, he filed a lawsuit challenging the firing of approximately 10,000 full-time employees from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), along with other structural changes within HHS.
In addition to this lawsuit, Bonta has been involved in legal actions concerning similar issues within other federal departments. He submitted amicus briefs against actions taken by the Trump Administration at the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau and operational changes at the Social Security Administration (SSA). These actions have reportedly increased pressure on state agencies tasked with consumer protection and impacted SSA's ability to provide essential services.