A federal judge in California has blocked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio from proceeding with planned layoffs at the State Department, ruling the move violates an existing court order on federal job cuts.
US District Judge Susan Illston ruled that her earlier injunction from May — which blocked layoffs across federal agencies under President Donald Trump’s directive — also applies to the State Department’s restructuring efforts.
Last month, the State Department notified Congress of plans to lay off approximately 2,000 employees and restructure more than 300 offices and bureaus starting in June. Rubio had argued that the restructuring was independent of the president’s broader executive order and therefore exempt from the injunction.
Judge Illston rejected that claim in a virtual hearing, stating the department remains bound by the court’s previous decision.
“If the State Department has any question about whether planned actions fall within the scope of the Court’s injunction, the Court ORDERS the Department to first raise those questions with the Court before taking action,” she wrote.
The ruling marks a legal setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline the federal workforce and reorganize executive branch agencies, a key plank of the president’s second-term reform agenda.
Legal experts say the ruling could have broader implications for other departments planning similar cuts under the White House directive.
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The European Union will send a team to Armenia to counter democratic threats ahead of its parliamentary elections in June.
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Kouri Richins, a U.S. woman who penned a children’s book about bereavement after the death of her husband has been found guilty of killing him.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 17 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Kouri Richins, a U.S. woman who penned a children’s book about bereavement after the death of her husband has been found guilty of killing him.
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Court documents released on Monday (16 March) revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has asked a U.S. judge to dismiss President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation suit over a 2024 documentary, arguing his re-election proves the edited 2021 speech did not harm his reputation.
Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday (13 March), according to Poland’s Operational Command.
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