US judge will block hundreds of Trump administration layoffs, citing shutdown law

Source: Reuters

December 17, 2025 5:12 PM EST Updated 46 mins ago


Dec 17 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday said she would block President Donald Trump's administration from laying off hundreds of federal employees, the latest legal setback for Trump's efforts to downsize the U.S. government workforce. U.S. District

Judge Susan Illston during a hearing in San Francisco said hundreds of layoffs at four agencies were likely not allowed under a law Congress passed last month to end a 43-day government shutdown. "The chaotic nature of these [layoffs] has been continuing and has affected employees of the government in many ways, including loss of potential alternative jobs and loss of healthcare coverage," Illston said.

Illston, an appointee of Democratic former President Bill Clinton, said she would block the U.S. State Department and Education Department from laying off about 250 and 150 employees respectively, pending the outcome of a lawsuit by unions.

She also said she intended to order State, the Defense Department, the General Services Administration, and the Small Business Administration to reinstate roughly 300 people who lost their jobs during the shutdown. Illston said she would issue a written order later on Wednesday detailing her decision.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-judge-will-block-hundreds-trump-administration-layoffs-citing-shutdown-law-2025-12-17/