Agencies across government have made preparations to quickly implement layoffs if a court order blocking them is lifted, leaving thousands of civil servants on the verge of losing their jobs should upcoming rulings go in favor of the Trump administration.

Much of the work required for implementing reductions in force has already taken place or is ongoing, according to 10 current federal employees and internal documents obtained by Government Executive, well positioning many agencies to swiftly deliver notices to broad swaths of their workforces. They remain enjoined from doing so following multiple court orders, but the Trump administration is now seeking relief before a potentially friendlier Supreme Court.

Most major federal agencies cannot lay off employees or institute reorganization plans previously ordered by President Trump after a district judge in California blocked those actions indefinitely. An appeals court declined to stand in the way of that order and the Trump administration has asked for the high court to weigh in. Justice Elena Kagan has asked the plaintiffs in that case to file a response to the administration’s appeal by next week.

In a filing with the Supreme Court, the Trump administration said 40 RIF actions were underway at 17 agencies when the injunction came down.

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