Trump’s Shutdown-Linked Layoffs Blocked by Federal Judge (1)

A California federal judge preliminarily blocked the Trump administration from laying off federal employees during the government shutdown, taking the next step beyond a pause she put in place on the workforce cuts.

Judge Susan Illston of the US District Court for the Northern District of California at a Tuesday hearing granted unions’ request for a preliminary injunction. Illston said the unions would likely succeed in proving that the administration’s reductions in force during the ongoing shutdown were illegal.

Illston, a Clinton appointee, said the layoffs “are intended for the purpose of political retribution.”

The injunction prohibits any new layoff notices for federal workers and will pause any existing ones. Illston said the injunction wouldn’t cover notices issued before the shutdown.

The judge also denied the government’s request to pause the injunction while they appeal her order.

President Donald Trump carried through on his threats to initiate another wave of layoffs during the government shutdown earlier this month, sending termination notices to at least 4,100 employees.

Illston previously issued a temporary restraining order that paused the layoffs to protect workers represented by eight unions. A TRO typically expires after 14 days, while a preliminary injunction lasts until the judge issues a decision on the merits. The move could hold up the layoffs for weeks.

White House Budget Director Russell Vought said he expected layoffs related to the ongoing government shutdown to exceed more than 10,000.

Illston called the layoffs “illegal and in excess of authority,” in her previous order.

Some departments, including Interior and Treasury, have both sought to proceed with layoffs for workers that were not represented by the plaintiff unions.

The case is AFGE v. OMB, N.D. Cal., No. 3:25-cv-08302, 10/28/25.