A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s plan to lay off thousands of workers during the shutdown, siding with two unions that said the government was unlawfully using the funding lapse to downsize. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston cited public statements by President Donald Trump and budget chief Russell Vought—including talk of targeting “Democrat agencies”—as evidence of political motives. Agencies had begun issuing about 4,000 notices, including Treasury and HHS, with more planned. The administration is expected to appeal; Justice Department lawyers urged unions to go to a labor board first. Vought said cuts could top 10,000.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.