Just hours ago, a Clinton-appointed federal judge blocked President Trump from firing thousands of federal workers during the government shutdown, undermining the administration’s mandate to drain the swamp and reduce bureaucratic bloat.
Story Overview
- Judge Susan Illston issued a preliminary injunction blocking 4,100+ federal worker layoffs during the shutdown.
- The Trump administration targeted jobs in education, health, and other Democrat-favored departments.
- Multiple federal unions sued, claiming firings were a politically motivated abuse of power.
- The government argues that Trump has the broad authority to reduce the workforce as promised to voters.
Clinton Judge Blocks Trump’s Workforce Reduction
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, nominated by Bill Clinton, granted a preliminary injunction on October 28, 2025, indefinitely barring the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the ongoing government shutdown.
Illston ruled that labor unions were likely to prevail on claims that the cuts were arbitrary and politically motivated, effectively halting President Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal bureaucracy as promised during his campaign.
#BREAKING Judge extends order barring the Trump administration from firing federal workers during the shutdown https://t.co/6mqP4aoCjk
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 28, 2025
Administration Targets Democrat-Favored Departments
The Trump administration has strategically slashed jobs in education, health, and other areas it identifies as favored by Democrats, issuing approximately 4,100 layoff notices since October 10, 2025.
The administration has also refused to tap roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to maintain SNAP benefits through November. Some furloughed employees were called back to work without pay specifically to issue layoff notices to their colleagues, highlighting the scope of the workforce reduction effort.
Federal Unions Challenge Presidential Authority
The American Federation of Government Employees and multiple other unions have sued to stop what they characterize as “reductions in force” layoffs, claiming the firings constitute an abuse of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley accused President Trump of using the shutdown as a “pretense to illegally fire thousands of federal workers.” The lawsuit has expanded to include the National Treasury Employees Union, American Federation of Teachers, and International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.
Trump Team Defends Campaign Promise Fulfillment
Government lawyers argue that the district court lacks authority to hear personnel challenges and that Trump possesses broad presidential power to reduce the federal workforce as pledged during his campaign.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Velchik told the court that “the American people selected someone known above all else for his eloquence in communicating to employees that you’re fired.”
The legal team emphasized that Trump was elected specifically on this platform of government workforce reduction, referencing his signature “Apprentice” catchphrase.
Historic Shutdown Becomes Political Battleground
The current shutdown has become the second-longest in U.S. history, with Democrat lawmakers demanding any reopening deal address expiring healthcare subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts from Trump’s recent tax and spending legislation.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to negotiate with Democrats until they first agree to reopen the government. All Cabinet departments and two dozen independent agencies are now included in the expanding legal challenge against the administration’s workforce reduction efforts.
