Shannon Bond

U.S. District Judge Susan Ilsten, a Clinton appointee, says a temporary restraining order is necessary to, quote, protect the power of the legislative branch. The case, brought by a coalition of labor unions, nonprofits, and local governments, argues the approach being taken by Trump, Elon Musk, and agency heads to restructure the government violates the Constitution.

U.S. District Judge Susan Ilsten, a Clinton appointee, says a temporary restraining order is necessary to, quote, protect the power of the legislative branch. The case, brought by a coalition of labor unions, nonprofits, and local governments, argues the approach being taken by Trump, Elon Musk, and agency heads to restructure the government violates the Constitution.

Judge Ilsten says while the president does have the authority to seek changes at agencies, he needs to work with Congress to do so. It's just the latest in a string of court battles testing the limits of Trump's executive authority. Shannon Bond, NPR News.

Judge Ilsten says while the president does have the authority to seek changes at agencies, he needs to work with Congress to do so. It's just the latest in a string of court battles testing the limits of Trump's executive authority. Shannon Bond, NPR News.

The Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation said this week they're reopening their deferred resignation programs. Similar notices went out on Friday at the Defense Department and the General Services Administration. The new round mirrors the fork-in-the-road offer sent in February to nearly all 2.3 million civilian federal employees.

The Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation said this week they're reopening their deferred resignation programs. Similar notices went out on Friday at the Defense Department and the General Services Administration. The new round mirrors the fork-in-the-road offer sent in February to nearly all 2.3 million civilian federal employees.

The Trump administration has said about 75,000 employees elected to resign under the program's first round. But many workers who tried to accept the offer were later told they were ineligible. Some of the new agency notices exempt jobs considered critical. Shannon Bond, NPR News.

The Trump administration has said about 75,000 employees elected to resign under the program's first round. But many workers who tried to accept the offer were later told they were ineligible. Some of the new agency notices exempt jobs considered critical. Shannon Bond, NPR News.

Yeah, this USDA worker was pretty confused by this, so they actually drove to the address on this list. Sure enough, it was a storage facility. And when the worker asked the owner of the facility why it might be showing up on a list of federal office spaces, they said the owner laughed and said, yes, you know, the federal government does rent a unit here. It's used to store a boat.

Yeah, this USDA worker was pretty confused by this, so they actually drove to the address on this list. Sure enough, it was a storage facility. And when the worker asked the owner of the facility why it might be showing up on a list of federal office spaces, they said the owner laughed and said, yes, you know, the federal government does rent a unit here. It's used to store a boat.

Yeah, this USDA worker was pretty confused by this, so they actually drove to the address on this list. Sure enough, it was a storage facility. And when the worker asked the owner of the facility why it might be showing up on a list of federal office spaces, they said the owner laughed and said, yes, you know, the federal government does rent a unit here. It's used to store a boat.

Now, to be clear, this employee doesn't expect to actually be working out of the storage unit. Like other federal employees I spoke with, they didn't want us to use their name because they fear retaliation from the Trump administration for speaking out. I reached out to the USDA. They told me they are identifying issues and addressing them quickly.

Now, to be clear, this employee doesn't expect to actually be working out of the storage unit. Like other federal employees I spoke with, they didn't want us to use their name because they fear retaliation from the Trump administration for speaking out. I reached out to the USDA. They told me they are identifying issues and addressing them quickly.

Now, to be clear, this employee doesn't expect to actually be working out of the storage unit. Like other federal employees I spoke with, they didn't want us to use their name because they fear retaliation from the Trump administration for speaking out. I reached out to the USDA. They told me they are identifying issues and addressing them quickly.

But, Michelle, this is just one example of the kind of confusion, even absurdity, some federal workers are encountering around this order back into offices. What are some of the other stories that you've heard?

But, Michelle, this is just one example of the kind of confusion, even absurdity, some federal workers are encountering around this order back into offices. What are some of the other stories that you've heard?

But, Michelle, this is just one example of the kind of confusion, even absurdity, some federal workers are encountering around this order back into offices. What are some of the other stories that you've heard?

Yeah, my colleague Jenna McLaughlin and I talked to employees at a dozen agencies who are being ordered back into the office to comply with President Trump's executive order terminating all remote work. And what they told us is in many cases, these offices just are not equipped for an influx of people. So they're running out of toilet paper and soap in the bathrooms.

Yeah, my colleague Jenna McLaughlin and I talked to employees at a dozen agencies who are being ordered back into the office to comply with President Trump's executive order terminating all remote work. And what they told us is in many cases, these offices just are not equipped for an influx of people. So they're running out of toilet paper and soap in the bathrooms.

Yeah, my colleague Jenna McLaughlin and I talked to employees at a dozen agencies who are being ordered back into the office to comply with President Trump's executive order terminating all remote work. And what they told us is in many cases, these offices just are not equipped for an influx of people. So they're running out of toilet paper and soap in the bathrooms.