Trump Blocked: Judge Stops Federal Worker Firings Amid Shutdown

Students from Columbus, Ohio, wait behind barriers as U.S. Capitol Police monitor the East Plaza ahead of congressional leaders' news conference on the government shutdown, Washington, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

October 15, 2025 - San Francisco, CA - In a swift rebuke to the Trump administration's aggressive cost-cutting measures, U.S. District Judge Susan Yvonne Illston issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, halting the firing of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. The ruling, delivered during a hearing in San Francisco's federal court, comes as the shutdown enters its third week, with thousands of employees already facing uncertainty.

The decision stems from a lawsuit filed on September 30 by two major labor unions: the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). These unions, representing approximately 800,000 federal workers combined, argued that the administration's "reductions in force" (RIFs) constitute an illegal abuse of power designed to punish employees and pressure Democratic lawmakers into concessions.

Judge Illston, presiding over the case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, expressed strong reservations about the administration's tactics. "The activities that are being undertaken here are contrary to the laws," she stated during the hearing. "You can't do this in a nation of laws." She further criticized the approach as "ready, fire, aim," emphasizing the profound human cost: families disrupted, communities strained, and essential services jeopardized without congressional oversight.

The current government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, triggered by a partisan stalemate over federal funding. Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, have refused to negotiate until Democrats drop demands for expanded health care protections, including subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Johnson predicted Wednesday that the impasse could shatter records, potentially becoming the longest shutdown in U.S. history—surpassing the 35-day closure of 2018-2019.

Amid the funding lapse, the Trump administration announced on October 10 that it would pursue RIFs across seven federal agencies, affecting at least 4,100 workers initially. Targets included non-essential roles in health, education, and environmental programs—areas the president has derisively labeled "Democrat agencies." White House Budget Director Russell Vought escalated the rhetoric during an interview on "The Charlie Kirk Show" earlier this week, estimating that "north of 10,000" jobs could be eliminated. "We want to be very aggressive in shuttering bureaucracy," Vought said, framing the moves as a fulfillment of Trump's mandate to streamline government.

By Friday, October 10, agencies had begun issuing layoff notices, prompting immediate legal action from the unions. AFGE President Everett Kelley highlighted the unprecedented nature of the policy in a statement: "In AFGE’s 93 years of existence under several presidential administrations—including during Trump’s first term—no president has ever decided to fire thousands of furloughed workers during a government shutdown." Unlike routine furloughs, which temporarily suspend pay but preserve jobs, these RIFs would result in permanent terminations.

The administration justified the firings by citing a lapse in appropriations, claiming executive authority to reorganize under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). However, Illston rejected this rationale, accusing the agencies of exploiting the shutdown to bypass statutory requirements. "The evidence suggests that OMB and OPM have taken advantage of the lapse in government functioning to assume that all bets are off, that the laws don’t apply to them anymore," she said. The judge found the actions "illegal, in excess of authority, arbitrary, and capricious."

The proposed layoffs have disproportionately hit sectors like public health and education. Cuts include positions in special education programs, after-school initiatives, and environmental monitoring—while military pay and immigration enforcement remain fully funded. Critics, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), decried the moves as "choosing to inflict more pain on people" to score political points.

Unions hailed the ruling as a victory for workers' rights. "This injunction protects thousands of families from needless hardship and reaffirms that no administration can weaponize a shutdown against its own employees," Kelley said in a post-hearing release. AFSCME echoed the sentiment, vowing to pursue a permanent block.

The White House responded defiantly, with an anonymous official telling reporters that the administration would appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals "immediately" and seek an emergency stay. President Trump, speaking at a rally in Ohio on Tuesday, doubled down: "We're firing a lot of these bureaucrats—it's about time we drained the swamp for real." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blamed Democrats for prolonging the crisis, suggesting they were timing negotiations around upcoming protests, including the "No Kings Day" rally on October 18.

As the shutdown drags on, federal workers—many already furloughed without pay—brace for further developments. Economists warn of ripple effects: reduced consumer spending, delayed services, and potential GDP losses exceeding $1 billion per week. Democratic leaders urged swift congressional action, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling the firings "a dangerous escalation that demands bipartisan intervention."

The temporary order remains in effect pending further hearings, leaving the fate of thousands of jobs—and the broader budget battle—in limbo. For now, Judge Illston's gavel has provided a fragile shield against the administration's axe.