Harris County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne announced that Harris County has filed for a temporary restraining order seeking to stop what county officials describe as sweeping federal workforce reductions that would significantly reduce staffing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The legal action challenges directives issued by the Trump Administration that call for large-scale federal layoffs, including plans to cut FEMA’s workforce by roughly half. According to court filings, terminations began December 31, 2025, and more than 10,000 FEMA positions could be eliminated in the coming months.

County officials argue the reductions conflict with Congress’s mandate requiring FEMA to maintain the capacity to prepare for, respond to and assist communities recovering from disasters.

“FEMA is essential to keeping Harris County safe,” Fombonne said in a statement. “When disasters strike, FEMA provides the personnel, expertise and resources that local governments rely on to protect lives and rebuild. Gutting the agency puts communities like ours at serious risk. These layoffs do not just affect the County’s finances. They slow our ability to respond and recover when residents need help the most.”

The request for a temporary restraining order was filed in ongoing litigation first brought last April by Harris County and other jurisdictions challenging earlier federal workforce reduction plans. While prior court orders and congressional action temporarily blocked some reductions, county officials say new directives have been issued requiring agencies to move forward with workforce reduction plans that have not been made public.

As previous protections expire, the Department of Homeland Security has directed FEMA to implement significant staffing cuts, according to the county’s filing.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis said the proposed reductions could have serious consequences for Gulf Coast communities vulnerable to hurricanes, winter storms and other extreme weather events.

“Dismantling FEMA risks the health and safety of millions of people along the Gulf Coast,” Ellis said. “Harris County is standing up against mass layoffs that will harm workers and endanger our entire community.”

Commissioner Adrian Garcia referenced the approaching five-year anniversary of Winter Storm Uri, emphasizing FEMA’s role in disaster recovery.

“FEMA provides critical assistance after natural disasters, and as the five-year anniversary of Winter Storm Uri approaches, I am reminded how important FEMA’s response is to our recovery,” Garcia said. “I urge the Court to uphold the temporary restraining order.”

As part of the filing, Harris County submitted declarations detailing what officials describe as the real-world impacts of FEMA workforce reductions, including a statement from Harris County Public Health outlining the agency’s role during natural disasters and public health emergencies.

Commissioner Lesley Briones pointed to FEMA’s involvement after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Beryl as examples of the agency’s importance to the region.

“FEMA is a critical partner to Harris County and has been essential after disasters like Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Beryl,” Briones said. “We have already seen the consequences of cuts to FEMA staffing, from missed emergency calls after the deadly Kerr County floods to slower response times when communities need help the most. Further dismantling will be disastrous, so we are taking action to fight to keep our residents safe.”

The county’s filing asks the court to immediately halt further workforce reductions while litigation continues, arguing that continued cuts could cause irreversible harm to FEMA’s disaster response capabilities in Harris County and beyond.