A federal judge in California issued a more permanent ruling Tuesday blocking the Trump administration from laying off federal workers because of the government shutdown, saying in part those terminations were intended for “political retribution.”

Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, who is overseeing a legal challenge brought by labor groups, granted a preliminary injunction from the bench and said she would follow up with a written ruling.

The injunction is expected to last while the case is pending but could be appealed. Illston previously issued a temporary restraining order in the case to block the layoffs.

The judge found the labor groups were likely to succeed on claims that actions from Office of Personnel Management and Offic

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