Shutdown Latest: Judge Blocks Layoffs, Coast Guard Payments, Congress at Standstill
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from carrying out layoffs during the government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston of the Northern District of California ruled that the reduction-in-force (RIF) notices sent to about 4,000 employees last Friday were “both illegal and in excess of authority.” Judge Illston granted a temporary restraining order blocking most agencies from proceeding with those layoffs.
The temporary restraining orders bars the Trump Administration from “taking any action to issue any reduction-in-force notices to federal employees … during or because of the federal government shutdown.”
The lawsuit was brought by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The order covers all federal programs, projects, and activities with any bargaining unit members represented by AFGE and AFSCME. Represented workers are at about 30 agencies.
The ruling also prohibits agencies from “taking any further action to administer or implement RIF notices.” That means agencies can no longer require federal employees to perform work to further administer or implement RIF notices during the shutdown.
North of 10,000 Layoffs?
Meanwhile, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought said shortly before the ruling came down, that the administration was targeting more than 10,000 layoffs during the government shutdown.
“We want to be very aggressive where we can be in shuttering the bureaucracy, not just the funding,” said Director Vought on an episode of the Charlie Kirk Show broadcasting from the White House. “We’re going to keep those RIFs rolling throughout this shutdown, because we think it’s important.”
Agencies singled out by Director Vought include Green New Deal programs at the Department of Energy and environmental justice efforts at the Environmental Protection Agency.
Coast Guard Members to Get Paid
Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem says U.S. Coast Guard members will get paid during the shutdown.
Secretary Noem says the agency found an “innovative” way to provide the money, although the department did not elaborate.
Secretary Noem also taped a video to be shown at airport security checkpoints, in which she blames Democrats for the current shutdown and possible longer wait times. Some airports are refusing to play the video.
Congress Stuck
There is also little progress to report from Capitol Hill on ending the shutdown.
Republicans put forth more votes on their resolution, which failed to garner the required 60 votes. Republicans are no longer allowing Democrats to call up their resolution for a vote.
Democrats insist that any move to reopen the government include an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, while Republicans say now is not the time to negotiate on that.
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) says he’s offered Democrats a deal, guaranteeing a vote on subsidies if the government is reopened.
“We can guarantee you get a vote by a date certain,” said Senator Thune. “At some point, Democrats have to take ‘yes’ for an answer.”
But as of now, Democrats are still giving no sign of backing down.
“As we speak – right as we speak – families are getting letters for their new health insurance rates,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “We have to do something, and right now, Republicans are letting these tax credits expire.”