U.S. District Judge Susan Illston has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to lay off thousands of federal employees, ruling that the decision appeared politically motivated and failed to follow proper legal procedures.
The planned layoffs targeted workers at eight major federal agencies, including Commerce, Education, Energy, the EPA, Health and Human Services, HUD, Homeland Security, and the Treasury. Before the judge intervened, about 4,100 employees had already been notified of potential job losses.
The administration argued the cuts were part of a broader effort to streamline government and prioritize agencies aligned with President Trump’s agenda. White House budget director Russell Vought projected that more than 10,000 workers could ultimately be affected.
However, unions representing federal employees filed suit, claiming the layoffs violated a federal law prohibiting new government spending during a shutdown. Judge Illston agreed, criticizing the administration for disregarding legal requirements and presenting misleading figures about the scope of the layoffs.
Her ruling orders the government to provide detailed plans within two days and temporarily blocks any layoffs involving unionized workers.
Despite the court’s intervention, administration officials say they will continue pushing for reductions in the federal workforce. President Trump has hinted that if the shutdown persists, programs he labels as “Democrat programs” could face further cuts.
While the judge’s decision provides short-term relief, the broader fight over federal staffing and shutdown funding remains unresolved.
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