Story perspectives
Judge Halts Trump’s Layoffs Amid Shutdown Controversy
10/16/2025
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Story summary
- The Justice Department faced a federal court after President Donald Trump announced thousands of layoffs amid a government shutdown.
- U.S. District Judge Susan Illston temporarily halted the layoffs in response to a lawsuit by the American Federation of Government Employees.
- The judge criticized the DOJ's lack of preparedness to defend the layoffs.
- Trump indicated more layoffs would be announced on October 17.
