- laying off approximately 4,000 federal workers
- Mass firings do not constitute an essential service
- The federal shutdown entered its third week
A U.S. District Judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from laying off thousands of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Judge Susan Illston granted an emergency request by two major unions to halt planned firings at over 30 agencies, intervening less than a week after the administration began laying off approximately 4,000 federal workers.
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Judge Illston stated she agreed with the unions that the administration was unlawfully using the funding lapse, which began on October 1st, to pursue plans to downsize the federal government.
She cited public statements by President Donald Trump and budget chief Russell Vought—such as Trump’s claim that cuts would target “Democrat agencies”—as evidence of explicit political motivations.
The layoffs targeted thousands of employees, with over a quarter planned at the Treasury Department (approximately 1,446 workers) and significant cuts at Health and Human Services (HHS).
The unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and AFL-CIO, argued that mass firings do not constitute an essential service that can occur during a funding lapse.
They noted that most federal workers are already furloughed without pay. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the restraining order.
Meanwhile, the federal shutdown entered its third week after the U.S. Senate again failed to pass a resolution to reopen the government. Republicans, who control the chamber, continue to blame Democrats for the impasse.
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