Judge Indefinitely Halts Shutdown-Linked Federal Layoffs | JQJO

A federal judge in San Francisco indefinitely halted the Trump administration’s shutdown‑tied reductions‑in‑force, extending an earlier pause on thousands of layoffs at union-represented agencies. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said unions are likely to prove the actions unlawful and set another hearing to decide whether some RIFs, including at Interior and Education, are linked to the funding lapse. Justice Department lawyers argued the executive may conduct RIFs during a shutdown; plaintiffs said the orders defy statutes and required illegal work. Illston underscored trauma, as roughly 4,000 have received notices and Russell Vought said more than 10,000 could receive notices.