Trump's federal firings can continue after judge declines jurisdiction

• The court "lacks subject matter jurisdiction" over the claim presented by the unions, wrote U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, a former President Obama appointee.
• "Federal district judges are duty-bound to decide legal issues based on even-handed application of law and precedent," he wrote," no matter the identity of the litigants, or, regrettably at times, the consequences of their rulings for average people."

Context: Five unions representing federal employees sought a temporary restraining order and pause on federal firings, arguing that they violated the constitutional "separation-of-powers principles."

• The Trump administration has fired staff in the Federal Aviation Administration, health agencies and the Internal Revenue Service.

What they're saying: "The court's decision denying our request for emergency relief is a temporary setback," National Treasury Employees Union president Doreen Greenwald said in a statement

• "The lawsuit we filed with our labor union partners will be heard and federal employees will get their day in court to challenge the unlawful mass firings and other attacks on their jobs, their agencies, and their service to the country."

Zoom out: Trump's onslaught of executive actions "have caused, some say by design, disruption and even chaos in widespread quarters of American society," Cooper wrote.

Go deeper: Federal workforce cuts slice through health agencies