Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Federal Shutdown Layoffs

Articles , English , Snippets , / Thursday, October 16th, 2025

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Washington, October 16 rki.news – A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from laying off thousands of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. The ruling comes less than a week after agencies began notifying approximately 4,000 employees of impending layoffs.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston granted an emergency request by two major unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and AFL-CIO, to halt layoffs at more than 30 agencies. The judge said the administration was unlawfully using the funding lapse, which began on October 1, to pursue politically motivated downsizing, citing public statements by President Donald Trump and White House budget chief Russell Vought about targeting “Democrat agencies.”
According to the Office of Management and Budget, the Treasury Department planned layoffs for roughly 1,446 employees, Health and Human Services for 1,100–1,200, and the Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development for at least 400 each. Other agencies, including Commerce, Energy, and Homeland Security, also faced planned cuts. Vought previously indicated total layoffs could exceed 10,000 during the shutdown.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the restraining order. Unions argue that mass firings are not essential services and that furloughed workers should not be terminated during the funding lapse.
With the shutdown now in its third week, the U.S. Senate has again failed to pass a funding resolution, marking the ninth unsuccessful attempt. Republicans blame Democrats for the impasse, while Democrats insist on measures to address rising healthcare costs for lower-income Americans.
The court ruling provides a temporary reprieve for federal employees while the legal challenge continues.