Temporarily blocks firing of intel officials

Federal judge temporarily blocks firing of intel officials under Trump administration's DEI order

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s ability to fire or put on leave without pay intelligence officials working on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility projects.

The order, from Judge Anthony Trenga in the federal district court in Northern Virginia, is only set to last until he can make a decision on whether the workers deserve longer protection for their jobs. But his temporary order this week illustrates how judges have slowed down and at least temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s attempts to remake the federal workforce.

The case comes from unnamed employees of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the CIA, who say being publicly fired by Trump would hurt their future job prospects. They say Trump’s approach is akin to defamation of them, because they are career intelligence officers and not long-time diversity specialists.

Trenga will hear more of the arguments in the case on Monday.