A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plans to lay off thousands of federal workers during a government shutdown, siding with unions that argued the dismissals were illegal and improperly handled. The decision was made in response to a court hearing on the unions’ motion for a temporary restraining order.
The government had argued that agencies have broad authorities to reorganize workforces to conform to the president’s priorities, but the unions claimed the layoffs were politically motivated and based on a false premise. They also argued that the government’s use of RIFs (Reduced-Force Initiatives) during the shutdown would break the Antideficiency Act, which forbids the government from obligating or expending any money not appropriated by Congress.
The judge ruled that the administration appeared not to follow the law when issuing RIFs and raised concerns about the errors made by the government. She ordered the government to provide details about their planned RIFs within two days.
This decision has sparked a mixed reaction among federal workers, with some expressing joy and relief at being spared from layoffs, while others remain cautious, fearing that the ruling may be overturned soon. The administration had previously discussed firing thousands of employees, but it’s unclear whether this decision will affect their plans.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/15/trump-administration-shutdown-layoffs