Applaud the Court for Protecting Federal Workers

In a major victory for workers’ rights and the rule of law, a federal judge in San Francisco has permanently blocked Donald Trump’s plan to fire thousands of federal employees during the government shutdown — calling the layoffs arbitrary, political, and illegal.

Judge Susan Illston’s ruling extends an earlier restraining order, now making it clear that the Trump administration cannot use the shutdown as an excuse to punish public servants or dismantle essential government services. The court found strong evidence that these mass firings — targeting agencies like education and health — were designed to hurt working families and silence dissent.

Thanks to this decision, more than 4,000 federal workers will keep their jobs while the lawsuit from labor unions moves forward. As the American Federation of Government Employees said, this isn’t just about employment — it’s about democracy itself. Workers who serve the public shouldn’t be pawns in a political power play.

Judge Illston reminded the nation that no president is above the law: “You can’t do this in a nation of laws.” Her decision ensures that fairness, not fear, governs how our federal government treats its workforce.