Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Halting Government’s Unlawful Actions During Shutdown

The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) commends the federal court’s decision to grant a Preliminary Injunction (PI) that halts the government’s unlawful plan to carry out reductions in force (RIF) during the ongoing shutdown.

This ruling offers much-needed reassurance to federal employees who have endured weeks of uncertainty about their jobs and pay. Despite the administration’s efforts to terminate unpaid furloughed employees during the shutdown, the court’s decision affirms that such actions are careless and likely unlawful. It also serves as a reminder of the strength of the judicial system to protect working people from government overreach.

“The court’s decision brings relief to thousands of federal workers who have spent weeks fearing for their jobs,” said NAGE National President David J. Holway. “Employees have already gone without pay and faced the added stress of possible termination. This decision allows them to take a breath and know they will not lose their jobs in the middle of a shutdown they did not cause. While this is not the final outcome, it gives workers and their families peace of mind and shows that the courts recognize the seriousness of what they are facing.”

The lawsuit was filed by NAGE in partnership with several other unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The unions are represented by Altshuler Berzon LLP, Democracy Forward, and the Democracy Defenders Fund. The case challenges the administration’s directive requiring the termination of thousands of furloughed federal employees—actions that violate federal law.

The Preliminary Injunction extends the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued earlier this month, which had temporarily stopped the administration from moving forward with terminations. With the PI now granted, those protections remain in effect as the case proceeds.

“NAGE stands with our union partners and every federal worker impacted by this shutdown,” Holway added. “Federal employees are public servants who deserve stability and respect. This ruling is a step toward ensuring they are treated fairly under the law.”

NAGE will continue to monitor developments in this case and provide updates to members as new information becomes available.

To learn more about the broader lawsuit and related court actions, read AFGE’s full article: Federal Employee Unions Win Extension of Order Barring Trump Administration’s Illegal Shutdown Firings.