A federal judge has paused USDA's reorganization and most associated employee relocations until Oct. 2 as part of a lawsuit brought by federal employee unions and allied parties.
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco issued an order Sept. 14 that stays the reorganization while the parties file briefs before they participate in a hearing on Sept. 29. The plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the reorganization, as first reported by Agri-Pulse.
In the meantime, the judge instructed USDA to "not take any action to implement, carry out, effectuate, or enforce" any deadlines requiring employees "to report to new locations or to accept or decline reassignments or relocations."
In addition, USDA cannot proceed "with any termination, separation, or other disciplinary proceeding against an employee, or placing an employee on Absent Without Leave status, based on the employee's decision to decline reassignment, not to respond to a notice of reassignment, or not to relocate."
In his brief order, Chhabria said the stay applies to the Food and Nutrition Administration; Research, Education, and Economics mission area; Forest Service; Foreign Agricultural Service; Rural Development mission area; Farm Production and Conservation mission area; Office of the General Counsel; and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.