🚨 JUST NOW: Judge Susan Illston BLOCKS President Trump from firing federal employees while Democrats have the government shut down
In a dramatic court ruling today, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the Trump administration from carrying out mass firings of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown.
The order comes in response to a lawsuit filed by major federal employee unions, which argued that the administration’s layoffs were politically motivated and exceeded legal authority.
Judge Illston expressed serious concern about how the layoffs were being implemented. She criticized what she described as a “ready, fire, aim” approach and warned of significant human costs if the firings proceed. (AP News)
According to court filings, more than 4,100 federal employees across at least eight agencies had already received reduction-in-force notices (RIFs). (Reuters) The judge’s ruling now halts not only the execution of those notices but also bars any new RIFs or related actions during the shutdown. (Mạng Tin Tức Liên Bang)
In her opinion, Illston suggested that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) appeared to be exploiting the lapse in government funding to push through structural changes without oversight. (Reuters) She ordered the administration to submit a detailed list of all planned layoffs by a deadline. (Reuters)
Administration officials defended the layoffs as lawful and said they were necessary to align federal staffing with priorities during the shutdown period. (Reuters) Still, White House Budget Director Russell Vought had earlier warned that cuts could exceed 10,000 workers. (Al Jazeera)
Labor unions praised the court’s decision as a much-needed check on executive overreach. Many federal employees, already enduring pay freezes and uncertainty during the shutdown, welcomed the ruling as potential protection for their jobs. (AP News)
The broader significance of today’s ruling lies in the balance of power between branches of government. While presidents hold authority to manage the federal workforce, courts maintain that the executive cannot bypass statutory and constitutional constraints under the guise of emergency or shutdown conditions. Judge Illston’s injunction underscores that even during funding lapses, the rule of law still applies.
As this legal battle continues, the Trump administration plans to challenge the ruling, likely appealing to higher courts. Meanwhile, federal workers and unions are watching closely — hoping this decision will stop what many view as politicized personnel purges
