Dive Brief:

The HHS is arguing it can go ahead with firing almost 1,000 employees, despite a judge pausing the layoffs of federal workers during the government shutdown.

The 982 HHS employees who received reduction-in-force notices are not represented by the unions that filed the court cause seeking to halt the layoffs, Thomas Nagy, the HHS’ head of personnel, said in a court filing Friday. Therefore, the temporary restraining order granted by a California Northern District judge on Wednesday doesn’t apply, Nagy argued.

In her order, Judge Susan Illston said the case brought by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees was likely to succeed given the Trump administration’s actions appear politically motivated

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