Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Firing Employees During Government Shutdown

Last Updated:October 29, 2025, 01:38 IST

Judge Susan Illston barred the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the shutdown, siding with unions like AFGE and AFSCME challenging mass layoffs as illegal.

Since the shutdown came into force on October 1, the Republican administration has slashed jobs in education, health and other areas that were dominated/supported by Democrats. (Getty Images)

A US Federal judge in San Francisco on Tuesday indefinitely barred President Donald Trump-led administration from firing federal employees amid the government shutdown.

According to CNN, District Judge Susan Illston granted a preliminary injunction that bars the firings while a lawsuit challenging them plays out.

The judge, who was nominated by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, stated that the evidence show mass firings done during the shutdown were illegal and in excess of authority.

Since the shutdown came into force on October 1, the Republican administration has slashed jobs in education, health and other areas that were dominated/supported by Democrats.

The American Federation of Government Employees and other labor unions have sued to stop the “reductions in force" layoffs. They stated that the firings were an abuse of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress.

Meanwhile, the lawyers from the government said that the district court does not have the authority to hear personnel challenges. “Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight," said Everett Kelly, AFGE’s national president.

The Justice Department has so far declined to offer a legal defense of the planned layoffs, instead contending that agency adjudicators like the Merit Systems Protection Board are better suited to remedy the harms at play than courts, The Hill reported.

Following the ruling, another Union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), said it was a victory for federal workers and ongoing efforts “to protect their jobs from an administration hellbent on illegally firing them".

“Unlike the billionaires in this administration, public service workers dedicate themselves to serving their communities." said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “These attempted mass firings would devastate both the workers and the people they serve."

Skye Perryman, CEO and president of the left-leaning legal group Democracy Forward, said: “This order is positive for the American people and a major blow to the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful attempt to make the Project 2025 playbook a reality by targeting our nation’s career public servants, who work for all Americans."

During a hearing on October 15, Illston said the layoff notices appeared to be politically motivated.

According to CNN, about 4,100 layoff notices have gone out, some sent to work email addresses that furloughed employees are not allowed to check.

Meanwhile, the Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked the House-passed bill to reopen the federal government for the 13th time.

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