Judge Blocks Trump’s ‘Politically Driven’ Firings Amid Shutdown Power Battle

A federal judge has issued an indefinite block on the Trump administration’s attempts to dismiss thousands of federal workers amid the ongoing government shutdown, representing a major legal setback for the administration’s contentious staff cuts. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco approved a preliminary injunction that suspends the "reductions in force" (RIF) layoffs while a lawsuit challenging their legality is underway. This decision builds on a previous temporary restraining order, which was due to lapse on October 23, according to

. Illston, who was appointed by President Clinton, has described the administration’s actions as "driven by politics" and "poorly planned," pointing out that layoff notifications were even sent to the work emails of furloughed staff, .

The administration has focused on eliminating federal positions in education, health, and other areas it considers to support Democratic interests, having sent over 4,100 RIF notices since late October, according to U.S. News. Labor unions, such as the American Federation of Government Employees, claim these dismissals are a misuse of authority intended to pressure Congress and punish employees. The White House maintains that the layoffs are essential to ensure funding for the military and law enforcement, but opponents argue this undermines Congress’s control over federal spending,

said.

Now in its 28th day, the shutdown has already interrupted federal operations, left 800,000 employees without pay, and sparked concerns about looming cuts to food assistance. In the meantime, reclusive billionaire Timothy Mellon has quietly contributed $130 million to cover military salaries, a move Trump commended but declined to acknowledge publicly. The donation, accepted under emergency provisions, is now under legal review for possibly breaching the Antideficiency Act, which forbids the use of funds not approved by Congress,

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Traditionally, government shutdowns were used to enforce federal law, but Trump’s strategy has added a new political element. Unlike previous administrations that applied shutdown rules consistently, Trump’s team has redirected funds selectively and openly blamed Democrats for the impasse. "This is an example of unchecked presidential spending authority," said Charles Tiefer, a former congressional counsel, describing it as "at odds with the Constitution and the Antideficiency Act,"

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Democrats have used the shutdown to push back against Republican budget proposals, refusing to reopen the government unless expiring health care subsidies are renewed. House Speaker Mike Johnson, on the other hand, has stated that talks will only start after a funding bill is approved. The deadlock has been likened to Trump’s 2019 shutdown over border wall funding, which lasted 35 days—the longest in U.S. history, according to the AP.

As the dispute over RIFs continues in court, the broader shutdown highlights escalating conflicts over executive authority and congressional power. With federal nutrition programs set to run out soon, there is little indication the crisis will end soon.