A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out mass federal employee firings during the ongoing government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco questioned the assistant U.S. attorney over the rationale behind more than 4,100 layoff notices issued last Friday, despite furloughed workers being unable to access work emails or HR support.
“It’s very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs, and it has a human cost,” Illston said, according to AP’s report. “It’s a human cost that cannot be tolerated.” She granted a temporary restraining order, noting that evidence is likely to show the layoffs were illegal and exceeded the administration’s authority.
The action came after federal labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, asked Illston to block the layoffs. The unions argued that the firings were a misuse of power intended to punish employees and pressure Congress.
“The president seems to think his government shutdown is distracting people from the harmful and lawlessness actions of his administration, but the American people are holding him accountable, including in the courts,” said Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward. “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 shutdown, which began October 1, entered its third week as Democratic lawmakers pushed for a reopening deal that includes health care protections. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that the shutdown could become the longest in U.S. history, insisting he would not negotiate until Democrats paused their demands.
Democrats are demanding the extension of health care subsidies first implemented in 2021, and a reversal of Medicaid cuts included in Trump’s recent tax and spending legislation. Meanwhile, the administration has continued funding the military and pursuing immigration enforcement while targeting programs in education, health, and social services. Trump defended the layoffs, saying programs favored by Democrats are being cut permanently in many cases.
In court filings, the administration stated plans to fire over 4,100 employees across eight agencies. A related case had previously blocked much of the workforce reduction, though the Supreme Court allowed some firings to continue while the legal challenge proceeds.
Union representatives maintain that the layoffs are unlawful political pressure based on the misconception that a temporary funding lapse nullifies Congress’ authorization of agency programs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hedges argued the court lacks jurisdiction over federal employment decisions and was unprepared to discuss the merits of the case beyond reasons to deny a restraining order.
Judge Illston, a Clinton appointee, emphasized the human impact of the planned layoffs and stressed the legal limits on the administration’s authority to act during a funding lapse.
READ ALSO: Trump administration warns federal workers may lose back pay as shutdown continues
