Judge temporarily blocks layoffs by Trump administration amid extended government shutdown

A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from laying off federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. The emergency order comes after federal agencies began issuing layoff notices. Students from Columbus, Ohio, wait outside a barricade as U.S. Capitol Police guard the East Plaza where congressional leaders will hold a news conference about the government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP) A federal judge in San Francisco on Wednesday (Oct.) temporarily blocked to work the federal administration Wednesday (October). the ongoing government shutdown, which is a setback for the White House’s efforts to reduce the size of government amid a struggle. US District Judge Susan Illston issued the emergency order after several federal agencies began issuing layoff notices last week as part of a broader plan to shrink the government. The Trump administration has argued that the cuts were necessary to manage spending during the shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 and is now in its third week. “It’s very ready, fire, targeting most of these programs, and it has a human cost,” Judge Illston said in court. “This is a human cost that cannot be tolerated.” The American Federation of Public Employees and other unions filed an emergency restraining order, accusing the administration of using the layoffs as a political weapon to pressure Democrats into concessions. Unions call layoffs ‘abuse of power’ Union leaders said the firings were “an abuse of power” intended to punish federal employees and manipulate ongoing budget negotiations. The administration planned to lay off more than 4,100 workers across eight agencies, including in health and education departments. The Trump administration defended its actions, arguing that the court did not have jurisdiction over employment decisions made during a shutdown and that the layoffs were consistent with its authority to manage federal operations. Shutdown enters third week The shutdown, which began after lawmakers failed to agree on a spending plan, has sharpened partisan divisions in Washington. Democrats are demanding that any deal to reopen the government include funding for health care programs, while Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said he “will not negotiate” until Democrats drop those demands. President Trump said earlier this week that the shutdown allows his administration to eliminate “Democratic programs” he opposes, adding that “they’re never going to come back, in many cases.” Social Security delay adds to disruption The shutdown’s impact is spreading to federal services, including a delay in announcing the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for millions of retirees. The release, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will now take place on October 24 after the September consumer price index is published.