Washington: A US federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's plans for substantial job cuts and staff reductions across 20 federal agencies, citing potential overreach of legal authority, according to press reports on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ruling challenges an executive order from February, driven by the Department of Government Efficiency, a team led by Elon Musk, a top donor to President Donald Trump's campaign. US District Judge Susan Illston supported federal employee unions contesting the layoffs, stating that President Trump likely needs Congressional collaboration to implement the desired changes.

The US Constitution grants Congress the 'power of the purse,' requiring allocated money to be used as specified unless new legislation is passed. The judge's order stops further actions to execute the cuts, such as placing employees on administrative leave or issuing new directives from Musk's team to downsize staff or programs.

The injunction is set to last for 14 days while the court evaluates the case. Affected agencies include the State Department, the Treasury, Veterans Administration, and Commerce Department, alongside the Social Security Administration and the Office of Management and Budget.

The unions argue that the job cuts represent an 'unconstitutional dismantling of the federal government by the President of the United States,' executed without Congressional consent. The Trump administration has defended the plan, arguing that federal agencies have long had the authority to reduce staff and that the executive order simply offers 'broad guidance.'

However, the judge pointed out that federal agencies seem to be acting under direct orders from the President, rather than adhering to lawful restructuring protocols. The White House has not yet responded to the ruling.