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- A judge will temporarily halt the Trump administration’s federal worker layoffs sparked by the government shutdown.
- The lawsuit claims the administration unlawfully used the shutdown for staff cuts.
- Thousands face layoffs or furloughs, with agencies like Commerce and Education affected.
A judge plans to temporarily freeze the Trump administration’s firing of federal workers during the government shutdown.
A lawsuit, filed by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and American Federation of Government Employees in a Northern California District Court, alleges that the Trump administration’s staff cuts at government agencies are “unlawfully laying off employees during the shutdown, and improperly using the shutdown as the basis for the layoffs.”
Bloomberg Law originally reported that Judge Susan Illston, who is overseeing the case, issued a temporary restraining order on the layoffs in a hearing on Wednesday, and the court’s clerk confirmed the ruling to Business Insider.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders told reporters in a statement that “This decision affirms that these threatened mass firings are likely illegal and blocks layoff notices from going out.”
A filing from the Office of Management and Budget on October 10 reviewed by Business Insider indicated that between 4,132 and 4,232 federal workers were marked for layoffs, with some receiving RIF notices that day. The Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, and Treasury are impacted.
Administration sources told Business Insider that the numbers in the filing are “just a snapshot in time” and that more RIFs are coming. On a Wednesday episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, OMB head Russell Vought said that the layoffs will total about 10,000.
His comments follow a pre-shutdown memo from The Office of Management and Budget directing federal agencies to “consider” terminations for employees working in programs that are “not consistent with the President’s priorities.” A HHS spokesperson said “multiple divisions are receiving reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown.”
Business Insider has spoken with two dozen employees across agencies since the shutdown began. Thousands have been laid off, while others remain furloughed or remain at their post without pay.
The Trump administration will have the opportunity to appeal.
This is a developing story, check back for further updates.
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