Core Points - A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from laying off federal employees during the government shutdown, ruling that such actions violate existing laws [1][2] - The judge's ruling comes as the government shutdown enters its 15th day, with the Senate having rejected a temporary funding bill for the ninth time [1] Group 1: Legal Ruling - Judge Susan Yvonne Illston issued a temporary restraining order requiring over twenty federal agencies to halt new layoff notices to union members and to stop executing previously issued notices until further court evaluation [1][2] - The judge emphasized that the government's actions could be contrary to existing laws and stated that in a rule-of-law country, such actions are not permissible [2] Group 2: Government Layoff Plans - The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought indicated that the administration's layoff plans could exceed 10,000 federal jobs, targeting specific agencies and programs [3] - Vought mentioned potential cuts to projects related to the Department of Energy's "Green New Deal," the Environmental Protection Agency's environmental justice initiatives, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) [3]