RismadarVoice Reporters
September 3, 2026
A federal judge in California has rejected a request by labour unions and advocacy groups to temporarily block a major reorganisation plan at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), while allowing them to pursue a separate legal challenge against the move.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston of the Northern District of California ruled that the plaintiffs could not amend an existing lawsuit over federal workforce reductions to include the USDA restructuring plans, saying the proposed claims involved separate legal and factual issues.
The decision allows the USDA to continue with plans to relocate parts of its operations from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs across the country, a move expected to affect about 2,500 employees.
The lawsuit was brought by groups including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, several local governments and advocacy organisations.
The plaintiffs argued that the restructuring could weaken the USDA’s ability to provide food assistance programmes, support farmers and maintain food safety operations. They also claimed that moving offices and research facilities away from communities they serve could negatively affect the agency’s work.
The judge said the groups could file a new lawsuit specifically challenging the USDA’s reorganisation plans.
The USDA and some of the plaintiffs did not immediately comment on the ruling.
The legal challenge forms part of a broader dispute over efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce and restructure government agencies. Thousands of USDA employees previously accepted financial incentives to leave the agency.
Judge Illston had earlier blocked some federal workforce cuts, but those decisions were later affected by actions from higher courts. She has also issued temporary restrictions involving workforce changes at other government departments.
The case is American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump, before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
