US supreme court clears way for Trump officials to resume mass government firings

Justices lift lower court order that froze reductions in force' federal layoffs while litigation in case proceeded

The US supreme court has cleared the way for Donald Trump's administration to resume plans for mass firings of federal workers that critics warn could threaten critical government services.

Extending a winning streak for the US president, the justices on Tuesday lifted a lower court order that had frozen sweeping federal layoffs known as reductions in force" while litigation in the case proceeds.