Federal Judge Halts Trump's Firing Spree During Shutdown

Key Decision by Judge Susan Illston

A federal judge in San Francisco has made a significant ruling, halting the Trump administration from firing federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. Judge Susan Illston stated that the firings appeared unfair and potentially politically motivated.

Order Extends Protection for Federal Workers

The judge issued an order that remains in effect until the lawsuit is resolved. This extends a previous temporary halt on firings, preventing federal agencies from issuing or acting on layoff notices since the shutdown began in October.

Impact on Federal Agencies

The Trump administration has been cutting jobs in sectors like education and health, which are typically supported by Democrats. Additionally, the administration decided not to use extra funds to extend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through November.

Labor Unions Challenge the Firing

Labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, have sued to stop these firings. They argue that the firings are an abuse of power aimed at punishing workers and pressuring Congress. The unions claim that President Trump is using the shutdown as a pretext to fire workers he disagrees with.

White House and Government Response

The White House did not directly comment, referring questions to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not respond. The government's lawyers argue that the court lacks the authority to hear these challenges, asserting that Trump has the power to reduce the federal workforce, as he promised during his campaign.

Details of the Layoff Notices

Approximately 4,100 layoff notices have been sent since October 10th. Some workers were even recalled to work without pay to issue these notices. The lawsuit has expanded to include more unions and covers all Cabinet departments and several independent agencies.

Political Negotiations and Shutdown Duration

Democratic lawmakers want any deal to reopen the government to include fixing health care subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts. However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to negotiate until Democrats agree to reopen the government first.

This shutdown is now the second-longest in U.S. history. The longest shutdown occurred during Trump's first term over his demand for funds to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall, ending in 2019 after 35 days.