Judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from firing workers
during the government shutdown
[October 16, 2025]
By JANIE HAR
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked
President Donald Trump’s administration from firing workers during the
government shutdown, saying the cuts appeared to be politically
motivated and were being carried out without much thought.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco repeatedly pressed
the assistant U.S. attorney to explain the administration's rationale
for the more than 4,100 layoff notices that started going out Friday
even though furloughed workers can not access their work emails and
there are no human resources specialists to assist with next steps.
“It’s very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs, and it has a
human cost,” she said. "It’s a human cost that cannot be tolerated.”
She granted a temporary restraining order blocking the job cuts, saying
she believed the evidence would ultimately show the cuts were illegal
and in excess of authority.
Asked for comment, the White House referred The Associated Press to the
Office of Management and Budget. The budget office did not immediately
respond to a request for comment.
The American Federation of Government Employees and other federal labor
unions had asked Illston to block the administration from issuing new
layoff notices and implementing those that were already sent out. The
unions said the firings were an abuse of power designed to punish
workers and pressure Congress.
“The president seems to think his government shutdown is distracting
people from the harmful and lawlessness actions of his administration,
but the American people are holding him accountable, including in the
courts," said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of legal organization
Democracy Forward. “Our civil servants do the work of the people, and
playing games with their livelihoods is cruel and unlawful and a threat
to everyone in our nation.”
Illston’s order came as the shutdown, which started Oct. 1, entered its
third week.
Democratic lawmakers are demanding that any deal to reopen the federal
government address their health care demands. Republican House Speaker
Mike Johnson predicted the shutdown may become the longest in history,
saying he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they hit pause on those
demands and reopen.
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A sign that reads "Closed due to federal government shutdown," is
seen outside of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Oct. 6,
2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Democrats have demanded that health care subsidies, first put in
place in 2021 and extended a year later, be extended again. They
also want any government funding bill to reverse the Medicaid cuts
in Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill passed this summer.
The Trump administration has been paying the military and pursuing
its crackdown on immigration while slashing jobs in health and
education, including in special education and after-school programs.
Trump said programs favored by Democrats are being targeted and
“they’re never going to come back, in many cases.”
In a court filing, the administration said it planned to fire more
than 4,100 employees across eight agencies.
In a related case, Illston had blocked the administration from
carrying out much of its plans to reduce the size of the federal
workforce. But the Supreme Court said the administration could
continue firing workers while the lawsuit is pending.
The unions say the layoff notices are an illegal attempt at
political pressure and retribution and are based on the false
premise that a temporary funding lapse eliminates Congress’
authorization of agency programs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hedges said in court Wednesday
that the district court lacks jurisdiction to hear employment
decisions made by federal agencies. Under prodding by the judge,
Hedges said she was not prepared to discuss the merits of the case,
only reasons why a temporary restraining order should not be issued.
Illston was nominated to the bench by former President Bill Clinton,
a Democrat.
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