Judge Temporarily Blocks the Trump Administration From Firing Workers During the Government Shutdown

Students from Columbus, Ohio, wait outside a barrier as U.S. Capitol Police watch over the East Plaza where congressional leaders will have a news conference on the government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington DC, Wednesday, October 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Posted: October 16, 2025 -- Associated Press | By Janie Har

Published October 15, 2025, at 6:04pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked Trump’s administration from firing workers during the government shutdown, saying the cuts appeared to be politically motivated and were being carried out without much thought.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco repeatedly pressed the assistant U.S. attorney to explain the administration's rationale for the more than 4,100 layoff notices that started going out Friday even though furloughed workers cannot access their work emails and there are no human resources specialists to assist with next steps.