A federal judge has temporarily halted President Trump’s plan to lay off thousands of federal employees during the ongoing government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, nominated by former President Bill Clinton, ruled in favor of government employee unions, putting a stop to a reduction-in-force (RIF) that could impact over 4,000 workers.
At the hearing, Judge Illston indicated that the plaintiffs likely have a strong case. She pointed out that the administration’s actions seemed “politically motivated” and might exceed legal boundaries.
Illston noted that both the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) appeared to be exploiting reduced government spending, suggesting a disregard for legal protocols in favor of their own preferences.
Her order prevents the Trump administration from issuing further RIF notices to employees within the unions involved in the lawsuit, and directs them to refrain from enforcing any notices sent out after Friday. Additionally, she requested a report by Friday detailing the number of current or upcoming layoffs.
The unions had filed their lawsuit just before the shutdown commenced, claiming that the administration’s intention to impose permanent layoffs instead of temporary furloughs was unlawful.
They contended that a memo from OMB last month, which encouraged agencies to “take advantage of this opportunity” for layoffs in programs misaligned with Trump’s priorities, reflects a misunderstanding of the law around closures.
Daniel Leonard, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, cited OMB Director Russell Vought’s past remarks advocating for the removal of career civil servants, creating a context of distress for employees. Leonard characterized the administration’s actions as “traumatic,” emphasizing the emotional toll on those facing layoffs after a particularly challenging year.
Illston, seeking clarity, prompted the Justice Department for a legal counter to the layoffs, but found the government unprepared to discuss the cuts’ legitimacy at this early point in the proceedings.
“This outcome is affecting employees nationwide, and we aren’t ready to determine its legality,” she remarked.
Justice Department attorney Elizabeth Hedges argued that the lawsuit could potentially be dismissed without assessing the legality of the layoffs. She emphasized that any harm incurred could be addressed later through agencies like the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
Hedges mentioned, “We’re talking about harms, like job loss or wage loss, that courts have deemed repairable.” After she concluded her arguments, Judge Illston pressed for specifics on the government’s stance regarding the legality of the RIFs.
“Has there been any statement on whether these RIFs are legal?” the judge inquired.
“Not today, ma’am,” Hedges replied.
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