A federal judge on Tuesday issued an indefinite injunction preventing President Trump from carrying out planned layoffs of thousands of federal employees amid the ongoing government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee based in San Francisco, granted the preliminary injunction while a lawsuit filed by federal labor unions proceeds through the courts.
Earlier this month, Illston had issued a temporary restraining order halting the administration’s “reductions in force” (RIFs), citing concerns that the terminations may have been politically motivated.
Tuesday’s ruling extends that block indefinitely, with the judge indicating the layoffs could ultimately be deemed unlawful and potentially outside the scope of presidential authority, ABC 13 reports.
The planned layoffs were scheduled to affect more than 4,100 federal employees across departments, including education, health and other essential services.
Budget Director Russell Vought confirmed the reductions on social media, warning that the total number of potential terminations could surpass 10,000 if the shutdown continues.
Reports indicate that many layoff notices were sent to work email accounts that furloughed employees could not access, forcing some personnel to return without pay simply to retrieve their notifications, according to The Hill.
The lawsuit was initiated by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest unions representing federal workers.
Attorneys for the unions argued that attempting permanent terminations instead of temporary furloughs with back pay represented an abuse of executive authority.
Judge Illston’s prior rulings in favor of employees facing RIFs reportedly influenced her assignment to the case, The Gateway Pundit reports.
As the government shutdown entered its 28th day, negotiations between congressional leaders remained stalled.
Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked House-passed bills intended to reopen federal operations, demanding provisions to protect healthcare programs, Medicaid and assistance for illegal immigrants.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has insisted that no further negotiations will occur until funding is restored, deepening the stalemate.
Union leaders hailed the injunction as a significant win for federal employees.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders described the ruling as a safeguard for public servants “who dedicate themselves to serving their communities,” while Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward—the legal group representing the unions—called it a “major check on executive overreach.”
The decision ensures that federal workers’ positions cannot be terminated while the legality of the administration’s actions is examined in court.
The White House referred all inquiries regarding the ruling to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not issue an immediate response.
Legal analysts say the case raises broader questions about presidential authority, the judiciary’s role in personnel matters and the limits of executive power during extended government shutdowns.
Observers note that the outcome could set a precedent for future disputes over executive decisions affecting career federal employees.
The injunction highlights the ongoing tension between the executive branch and the courts, as well as the broader political struggle over funding the federal government.
With thousands of federal employees’ jobs hanging in the balance, the ruling temporarily halts the Trump administration’s efforts to enforce accountability during the Schumer-led shutdown, leaving it to the courts to determine whether Democrats’ obstruction of government funding and the administration’s planned layoffs are lawful.
