By Douglas Gillison

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A federal judge on Friday halted the mass firings carried out Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, stating her deep concern regarding the Trump administration’s violation of court orders relating to dismissals.

On Thursday, the agency terminated between 1,400 and 1,500 workers, cutting up to 90% of its workforce.

A witness statement filed on Friday accused senior officials, alongside an administration official from billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, of ignoring court orders. The witness also reported that a DOGE member required staff to work 36-hour shifts without breaks and subjected them to verbal abuse.

Last week, an appeals court mandated that firings at the CFPB could only happen after a “particularized assessment.”

Mark Paoletta, the CFPB’s chief legal officer, asserted in a sworn statement that the agency adhered to court orders and performed a thorough assessment of staffing needs. He claimed the evaluation indicated that the agency’s resources greatly surpassed both its requirements and legal limits.

The White House and CFPB did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Both President Donald Trump and Musk have advocated for the abolishment of the agency, accusing it of politicized enforcement and wastage without providing evidence. However, officials have affirmed in court that the CFPB will remain in some form.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson expressed her concerns about the rapid actions of the agency, questioning its compliance with the preliminary injunction during a hearing triggered by Thursday’s dismissals.

Jackson ordered a halt to the mass dismissals pending a review of the potential violations of her order. She also stated that CFPB employees would retain access to computer systems, countering the information given in Thursday’s dismissal notices.