According to the federal district judge in the case, Susan Illston in San Francisco, the layoffs appear to be politically motivated and are carried out without much consideration.
It's about a human cost that cannot be tolerated, says Illston, who makes the assessment that the evidence will ultimately show that the cuts are made in contravention of the law and exceed the administration's powers.
Documents submitted by the Trump administration claim that over 4,100 employees within eight different agencies will be laid off. The layoffs are part of President Trump's attempt to get the green light for his budget.
As a result of the disagreement over the budget, the American government apparatus was shut down on 1 October.
