Judge temporarily blocks Trump admin layoffs of thousands of federal workers during government shutdown

By Alexandra Koch

Published October 15, 2025

Trump threatens to cut Democrat-backed programs amid shutdown

A federal judge in San Francisco on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from continuing government reduction in force (RIF), granting a temporary restraining order sought by labor unions that argued layoffs were unlawful during the ongoing government shutdown.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston, a Clinton appointee, ordered the administration not to issue any reduction in force notices to federal employees in "any program, project or activity," including any bargaining unit or member represented by the unions during, or because of, the shutdown.

"The evidence suggests OMB and OPM have taken advantage of the lapse in government spending–function to assume all bets are off and that the laws don't apply to them," Illston said.

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Sign shows National Gallery of Art is closed during government shutdown

A sign that reads "Closed due to federal government shutdown," is seen outside the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Oct. 6. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

She further claimed the administration's actions were "illegal and is in excess of authority and is arbitrary and capricious."

Capitol dome and sign warning the Captiol's visitor center is closed due to the shutdown

The government shutdown is expected to cost taxpayers $400 million a day to pay furloughed federal employees, according to Congressional Budget Office data. (Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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In a court filing Tuesday night, an official with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said more than 4,000 government workers had already received reduction in force notices.

Mike Johnson and House GOP leaders hold up a sign that says "Votes to pay troops and federal workers"

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is joined by Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and Brian Steil for a news conference during the government shutdown, Oct. 10, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

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Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.

She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.

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