State Department Blocked From Firing Hundreds of Employees (1)

The State Department must halt plans to fire hundreds of foreign service officers and employees, a California federal court ruled Thursday.

Judge Susan Illston issued a temporary restraining order blocking the mass layoffs planned for Friday.

The prepared firings likely violate the November legislative deal to reopen the federal government, which includes provisions that pause all reductions in force through January next year.

Illston, writing for the US District Court for the Northern District of California, said she granted the motion without a hearing “given the urgency” of the planned firings.

“Some federal employees scheduled to be separated tomorrow are ...