A federal judge has criticized the Trump administration’s layoffs as politically driven, emphasizing that such actions violate the rule of law.
Published On 15 Oct 2025
A federal judge in California has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with widespread federal employee layoffs amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, responding to union claims that these job cuts are unlawful.
At a hearing held in San Francisco on Wednesday, US District Judge Susan Illston granted an injunction requested by two unions, preventing layoffs across more than 30 federal agencies until the legal challenges are resolved.
Her decision followed statements from White House Budget Director Russell Vought, who warned on “The Charlie Kirk Show” that over 10,000 federal employees could be dismissed due to the shutdown, which had reached its 15th day.
Judge Illston referenced public remarks by President Trump and Vought, highlighting their explicit political intent behind the layoffs, including Trump’s declaration that the cuts would focus on “Democrat agencies.”
“In a country governed by laws, you cannot act in this manner,” Illston, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, stated. “The actions described here fall outside legal boundaries.” She further criticized the administration’s approach as reckless and lacking proper consideration.
“This is a ‘ready, fire, aim’ scenario with serious human consequences,” she added. “The toll on individuals is unacceptable.”
Illston sided with the unions’ argument that the administration is unlawfully exploiting the funding lapse, which began on October 1, to push forward its agenda of shrinking the federal workforce.
Representing the Department of Justice, attorney Elizabeth Hedges acknowledged she was unprepared to address the judge’s legal concerns about the layoffs. Instead, she contended that the unions should first present their grievances to a federal labor board before pursuing judicial action.
Refusal to Compromise
The judge’s ruling came shortly after federal agencies began issuing layoff notices last Friday, part of the administration’s strategy to intensify pressure on Democratic lawmakers amid the shutdown.
Democrats insist that any agreement to reopen the government must include provisions addressing healthcare issues. Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted the shutdown could become the longest in US history, stating he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they suspend their healthcare demands and allow the government to reopen.
Democratic leaders are pushing for the extension of healthcare subsidies initially introduced in 2021 and renewed the following year. They also seek to reverse Medicaid reductions enacted in the Trump administration’s major tax and spending legislation earlier this year.
According to a court filing on Tuesday, approximately 4,100 federal employees across eight agencies have already received layoff notices.
While the Trump administration continues to fund the military and enforce immigration policies, it has simultaneously cut jobs in sectors like health and education, including special education and after-school programs. President Trump has openly stated that programs favored by Democrats are being targeted and, in many cases, will not be reinstated.
The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees argue that layoffs are not essential services that can proceed during a funding lapse. They maintain that the shutdown does not justify mass terminations, especially since most federal workers are currently furloughed without pay.
