Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Mass Federal Layoffs During Shutdown

A federal judge in California has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to lay off thousands of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown, siding with unions that argued the cuts were unlawful.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston issued the order on Wednesday in San Francisco after two unions representing federal employees sought emergency relief. The ruling blocks layoffs at more than 30 federal agencies while the case proceeds, offering a reprieve to thousands of workers caught in the political standoff.

The Trump administration had begun issuing layoff notices last week, following through on the president’s pledge to shrink the federal workforce during the shutdown, now in its 15th day. In addition, Trump extended a freeze on hiring new federal employees, with exceptions for military personnel and political appointees.

Illston sharply criticized the Justice Department’s handling of the case. When government lawyer Elizabeth Hedges argued that unions should first take their claims to a federal labor board, Illston pushed back, saying the administration had failed to address the legality of the layoffs. “The hatchet is falling on the heads of employees all across the nation, and you’re not even prepared to address whether that’s legal,” she said.

The judge ordered the administration to provide by Friday a full accounting of any “actual or imminent” layoffs and to outline steps agencies are taking to comply with her ruling.

Union leaders welcomed the decision. Skye Perryman, president of one of the groups involved, said in a statement: “Our civil servants do the work of the people, and playing games with their livelihoods is cruel and unlawful and a threat to everyone in our nation.”

The White House has not yet commented on the ruling. The administration is expected to appeal, setting up a legal battle over the scope of executive authority during a shutdown.

The case highlights the growing tension between the executive branch and federal workers as the shutdown drags on. With Congress deadlocked over funding, thousands of employees remain in limbo, facing uncertainty about their jobs and paychecks.