US government shutdown: Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from firing federal workers, says 'it can't be tolerated'

A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from firing federal workers amid the ongoing government shutdown. The decision came as the shutdown entered its third week. US district judge Susan Illston in San Francisco said the planned job cuts were being carried out without proper consideration. “It’s very much ready, fire, aim on most of these programs, and it has a human cost,” she said. "It’s a human cost that cannot be tolerated." Trump defended the actions, saying, “Programs favoured by Democrats are being targeted and they’re never going to come back, in many cases.” Judge Illston granted a temporary restraining order after labour unions argued that the administration’s layoff notices were illegal and designed to pressure Congress. The American F