A federal judge has put a stop to President Trump’s plans to lay off thousands of federal workers during the government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, ruled in favor of public employee unions aiming to prevent the government from proceeding with a workforce reduction program while a lawsuit is ongoing. This program was set to impact over 4,000 employees.
This preliminary injunction builds on Illston’s earlier decision to pause the administration’s staff-cutting attempts, with the judge expressing concern that these actions could ultimately be deemed illegal and beyond the administration’s authority.
While the judge plans to issue a written order, she affirmed that the injunction “remains valid.”
The White House directed inquiries to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not reply to The Hill’s request for comment.
The ruling came in court and followed a lawsuit from one of the unions that had publicly urged for an end to the shutdown affecting government operations.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union for federal workers, called on Congress to enact a clean continuing resolution to resolve the shutdown.
“Both political sides are making their arguments, but there isn’t a clear resolution yet,” said Everett Kelly, national president of AFGE.
However, Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a House-approved bill attempting to reopen the federal government for the thirteenth time.
The unions had filed their lawsuit just before the shutdown began, asserting that the administration’s strategy to enforce permanent layoffs instead of temporary furloughs is illegal.
These layoffs, affecting approximately 4,100 employees, could just be the start.
OMB Director Russell Vought previously indicated that the administration might ultimately let go of over 10,000 federal employees during the shutdown.
The Justice Department has so far rejected legal arguments supporting the layoffs, suggesting that agency adjudicators like the Merit System Protection Board are better positioned to address grievances than the courts.
The American Federation of State, County, and City Employees (AFSCME), another union involved in the lawsuit, stated this ruling is a win for federal workers in their fight to safeguard their jobs against wrongful terminations by the government.
“Unlike the wealthy individuals in this administration, public servants are committed to serving their communities,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “These mass layoffs would severely impact both the employees and the people they help.”
Skye Perryman, CEO and president of Democracy Forward, a progressive legal organization representing both unions, commended the ruling. She noted, “This order benefits the American public and significantly counters the administration’s illegal attempts to pursue its Project 2025 strategy by targeting career civil servants who serve all Americans.”
Updated at 4:26 p.m. EDT
