Unions Ask for Immediate Court Block on Shutdown Layoffs (1)

Federal employee unions asked a judge to immediately block the White House from ordering agencies to cut workers during the government shutdown.

The request, added to a lawsuit filed last week against the federal government, asks a California district court to swiftly stop the layoffs occurring at several federal agencies. The American Federation of Government Employees also urged the judge to move up a hearing scheduled for next week, citing the urgent nature of the cuts.

Administration officials said that workers at the departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Commerce were among those affected.

The cuts were first announced over social media by Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, who simply warned that “The RIFS have begun,” referring to reductions in force.

Thousands had been laid off, according to a senior White House official. An OMB spokeswoman declined to describe the scope of the layoffs but said they would be “substantial.”

The case is AFGE v. OMB, N.D. Cal., No. 25-cv-08302, motion filed 10/10/25.