A federal judge has declined the Trump administration’s request to cancel an upcoming evidentiary hearing related to efforts to reduce the federal workforce. US District Judge William Alsup mandated the acting head of the Office of Personnel Management, Charles Ezell, to testify in a case challenging the administration’s decision to terminate numerous probationary federal employees. Despite the administration’s plea to cancel the hearing and subpoenas, the judge stood by his order, emphasizing the importance of fair questioning under oath. This legal battle marks the administration’s first formal attempt to prevent officials from providing sworn testimony, testing their authority to downsize the federal workforce. The Justice Department argued against compelling Ezell’s testimony, citing separation-of-powers concerns and minimal evidentiary value. However, the judge’s temporary order prohibits OPM from directing agencies to mass-fire probationary employees. The administration’s move to convert the order to a preliminary injunction for a structured resolution was met with resistance from labor groups, accusing the government of manufacturing delays and crises. The ongoing dispute underscores the clash between the administration’s policy goals and legal challenges surrounding workforce reduction, setting the stage for further legal proceedings and potential appeals to higher courts.