SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge said Wednesday she was inclined to block President Donald Trump’s administration for now from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying she believed the evidence would ultimately show they were illegal and in excess of authority.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston made the comments during a hearing on an emergency order sought by labor unions to block the layoffs. The hearing was continuing, and the judge did not immediately issue a ruling.

Federal agencies on Friday started issuing layoff notices aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. The layoff notices are part of an effort by Trump’s Republican administration to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues.

Illston said the administrati

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