Trump spox Karoline Leavitt blasts ‘absurd’ activist judges curtailing executive powers

The White House blasted the “absurd and unconstitutional” ruling of a federal judge who ordered that thousands of fired federal employees be reinstated in their jobs.

“A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, vowing the administration will “immediately fight back” against US District Judge William Alsup’s ruling.

“The President has the authority to exercise the power of the entire executive branch — singular district court judges cannot abuse the power of the entire judiciary to thwart the President’s agenda,” Leavitt’s fiery statement continued. “If a federal district court judge would like executive powers, they can try and run for President themselves.”

STATEMENT FROM @PressSec:
“A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch. The President has the authority to exercise the power of the entire executive branch – singular district court judges cannot abuse the… https://t.co/oMnpJCYoii

— Harrison Fields (@HFields47) March 13, 2025

“The words that I give you today should not be taken as some kind of wild and crazy judge in San Francisco has said that the administration cannot engage in a reduction in force. I’m not saying that at all,”  said Alsup, an appointee of former President Clinton.

“Of course, if he does, it has to comply with the statutory requirements: the Reduction In Force act, the Civil Service Act, the Constitution, maybe other statutes,” added the judge who ruled that the administration must reinstate probationary employees who were firedlast month at the Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury departments.

The lawsuit brought by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and a coalition of other labor unions challenged the role of acting Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Charles Ezell in the mass firings. The government’s lawyers have contended that the individual agencies have conducted the firings.

Leavitt’s fiery response to the judge’s ruling was met with applause on social media.

Mic drop for Karoline!!

— Mississippi Mama (@farmHer03) March 13, 2025

Good! She is right! Activist judges need to be removed!

— Ethan Isaak Canada First MAGA (@isaakethan) March 13, 2025

Exactly what precedent does this judge reference where he can tell the executive branch who they can hire and fire? This is absolutely bogus.

— Proud American (@JimSTruthBTold) March 13, 2025

It sure is disturbing to know that who you vote for doesn’t matter. It only matters what judges have been appointed because they are apparently really in charge of the country.

— Broken Clock (@skymac2) March 13, 2025

This is exactly why activist judges are a threat to democracy. The Constitution is clear: the President controls the executive branch—not some Clinton-appointed bureaucrat in a robe.

— Kentucky Kernels Of Truth (@TrackDaddyKy) March 13, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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