The new order is a major setback for Trump in his efforts to drastically shrink the federal government. His plans for the sweeping layoffs " known as reductions in force, or RIFs " have been on hold since May 9, after US District Judge Susan Illston ruled that Trump could not do such a dramatic overhaul of federal agencies without congressional authorization. In its 2-1 opinion, the 9th Circuit panel said the Trump executive order at issue in the case "far exceeds the President's supervisory powers under the Constitution."