Judge Extends Block on Federal Worker Layoffs Amidst Shutdown Standoff

A federal judge has extended a block on the Trump administration’s attempt to lay off thousands of federal employees during the partial government shutdown. Judge Susan Illston’s decision came after a hearing in San Francisco and affects nearly 40 federal agencies pending a legal challenge by various unions.

The unions, representing around 800,000 federal workers, argue that the layoffs are unnecessary and unjust during the shutdown. They call for bipartisan cooperation to pass a spending bill and resolve the impasse. The American Federation of Government Employees emphasized the urgency of ending the shutdown to prevent job losses and resume governmental operations.

The decision is expected to be immediately appealed and could face further legal scrutiny. The current shutdown, lasting 28 days, is the second-longest in U.S. history. As political tensions mount, the unions continue to challenge the legality of the proposed layoffs as political maneuvers rather than essential services cuts.