Commuters cross the street near the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. Congress could not agree on a budget to fund the federal government so it has shut down. Al Drago/Getty Images

A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt its efforts to lay off roughly 4,100 federal workers during the government shutdown, saying the move is unlawful.

US District Judge Susan Illston said during a hearing Wednesday that she was granting a request from unions representing federal workers for an emergency order pausing the layoffs that began last Friday.

“As of right now, the (temporary restraining order) is in effect,” Illston said. The order bars the administration from moving ahead with any layoffs

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