We are writing to provide an important litigation update concerning AFGE’s September 30 lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plans to conduct mass reductions in force during the government shutdown.

As you know, these plans were first announced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), through its Director Russ Vought, and supported by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its Director Scott Kupor. On October 4, AFGE swiftly moved for a temporary restraining order asking the court to block the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal workers during the government shutdown.

Earlier today, Judge Susan Illston from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted AFGE’s motion for a temporary restraining order. The judge found that AFGE was likely to prove that the administration’s issuance of RIF notices to more than 4,000 federal employees during the shutdown is illegal, exceeds its authority, and is arbitrary and capricious. The judge ordered the administration to issue no further RIF notices in agencies where AFGE represents members and to take no action to enforce the RIF notices it has already issued. The judge also ordered the administration to provide detailed information within two days on the RIF notices it has issued.

This is another significant legal victory for AFGE and its members. But it would not be possible without your financial support. We encourage every federal employee to become an AFGE member by signing up on AFGE E-Dues so that we can continue this fight together.

For the latest shutdown news, please visit www.afge.org/stoptheshutdown. We’ll share additional updates as they become available.

In Solidarity,