Title: Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Firing Federal Workers

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's plan to lay off federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. The ruling was issued on Wednesday, just days after the administration sent layoff notices to over 4,000 employees.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, based in San Francisco, expressed concerns that the layoffs appeared politically motivated and lacked proper justification. During a court hearing, she questioned the rationale behind the reduction-in-force notifications, especially since many affected workers were unable to access their work emails or receive assistance from human resources due to the shutdown.

"It’s very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs, and it has a human cost," Illston stated. "It’s a human cost that cannot be tolerated." She granted a temporary restraining order, indicating that the evidence likely would show the layoffs were illegal and exceeded the administration's authority.

The American Federation of Government Employees and other labor unions had requested the court to block the layoffs, arguing that the actions were an abuse of power intended to punish workers and exert pressure on Congress.

Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, an advocacy group representing the unions, criticized the administration's actions. "The president seems to think his government shutdown is distracting people from the harmful and lawless actions of his administration, but the American people are holding him accountable, including in the courts," she said.

The shutdown, which began on October 1, has now entered its third week. Democratic lawmakers are demanding that any agreement to reopen the government address their health care concerns. Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated he will not negotiate with Democrats until they pause their demands.

The Trump administration has continued to pay military personnel and enforce immigration policies while proposing cuts to jobs in health and education sectors, including special education and after-school programs. President Trump has indicated that the layoffs target programs favored by Democrats, stating, "they’re never going to come back, in many cases."

In a court filing, the administration revealed plans to terminate more than 4,100 employees across eight federal agencies. Although a previous ruling had blocked many of the administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to proceed with layoffs while the case is ongoing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hedges argued in court that the district court lacked jurisdiction over employment decisions made by federal agencies. However, under questioning from Judge Illston, she admitted she was not prepared to discuss the merits of the case.

Illston, nominated by former President Bill Clinton, emphasized the importance of adhering to the law, stating that the administration's actions could not disregard legal frameworks simply because of a funding lapse. The judge's order comes as the government shutdown continues with no resolution in sight.