Federal Judge Halts Mass Layoffs of Thousands of Federal Workers in Ongoing 2025 Shutdown

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's mass layoffs of thousands of federal employees amidst an ongoing government shutdown in October 2025. This judicial intervention follows legal challenges brought by federal employee unions, who allege the administration is illegally using the shutdown to implement politically motivated reductions in force (RIFs). Legal counsel Norm Eisen confirmed the expanded legal action, stating, "Trump is expanding his shutdown shenanigans—so we & our great partners are expanding the lawsuit to stop them!"The lawsuits, spearheaded by unions including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), contend that forcing federal employees to work without pay or laying them off during a lapse in appropriations violates federal law, including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Fifth Amendment. According to court filings, the administration had announced plans to issue layoff notices to over 4,000 federal employees, with projections reaching up to 10,000.U.S. District Judge Susan Illston has granted temporary restraining orders (TROs) to halt these layoffs, expressing frustration with the administration's approach, which she characterized as "ready, fire, aim." These orders aim to prevent firings at agencies where the plaintiff unions represent employees, covering various departments such as Housing and Urban Development, Education, and the Census Bureau. Eisen noted that "We already secured two TROs & we are not stopping."The administration has reportedly interpreted these court orders narrowly, arguing that many employees are not covered, and has continued to pursue reductions in force. This stance has led to further legal disputes and calls from unions to clarify the scope of the TROs. Unions argue that the administration's actions are an unlawful attempt to reshape the federal government and eliminate "Democrat-sponsored programs" under the guise of a shutdown.Federal employee advocates highlight the significant emotional trauma and financial hardship faced by workers due to the uncertainty surrounding their employment and paychecks. The legal battles are ongoing, with unions like AFGE, AFSCME, NFFE, NAGE, SEIU, NTEU, and AFTunion committed to fighting for federal workers' rights against what they describe as unprecedented actions by the administration.