Judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from firing workers during the government shutdown

"U.S. District Judge Susan Illston issued the emergency order after federal agencies on Friday started issuing layoff notices aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. The layoff notices are part of an effort by Trump's Republican administration to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues. Illston said the administration was acting without thinking through its decisions. It's very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs, and it has a human cost, she said."

"The American Federation of Government Employees and other federal labor unions had asked Illston for a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from issuing new layoff notices and implementing those that were already sent out. The unions said the firings were an abuse of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress. Illston's order came as the shutdown, which started Oct. 1, entered its third week."

A federal judge ordered the administration to stop firing workers during the government shutdown and issued an emergency restraining order after agencies began issuing layoff notices. Agencies started layoff notices aimed at reducing federal workforce size to increase pressure on Democratic lawmakers. The judge criticized the administration's rushed decision-making and warned of unacceptable human costs. Federal labor unions sought a temporary restraining order to block new notices and the implementation of already sent notices, calling the firings abusive and politically motivated. The shutdown began Oct. 1 and entered its third week amid disputes over Democratic health care demands and congressional negotiations.

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