Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration's Layoffs Amid Shutdown

A federal judge in San Francisco has indefinitely halted the Trump administration's plan to lay off federal employees amid the ongoing government shutdown.

US District Judge Susan Illston granted a preliminary injunction against the layoffs, as legal proceedings continue. The judge, nominated by Democratic President Bill Clinton, previously issued a temporary restraining order due to expire soon. Illston believes the layoffs, part of cuts in Democrat-favored sectors like education and health, are illegal and overreach the administration's authority.

The American Federation of Government Employees and other unions argue the layoffs are an abuse of power intended to pressure Congress, though government lawyers insist the court lacks jurisdiction. As partisan deadlock persists in Congress, workers face uncertainty, looming Medicaid cuts, and healthcare subsidy changes. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson demands a government reopening before negotiations, while the shutdown nears a historic length.