The preliminary injunction was issued Tuesday.

Photo illustration by Justin Morrison/Inside Higher Ed | Zolnierek/iStock/Getty Images | Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

A federal district court judge indefinitely blocked President Trump’s most recent round of staff cuts Tuesday, saying his actions were likely unlawful and that the plaintiffs had a good case for arguing they were politically motivated.

The order, issued in San Francisco by Judge Susan Illston, built on an existing temporary restraining order. Now, while the remainder of the case is argued in court, the Trump administration will be barred from finalizing any of the estimated 4,000 layoffs that were announced across agencies on Oct. 10.

At the Education Department, nearly 500 employees were laid off. Those cuts spared the Off

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