(MENAFN) A US federal judge has issued a temporary order blocking the government from proceeding with planned layoffs of thousands of employees during the ongoing government shutdown, ruling that the administration’s actions violate congressional intent and administrative law, according to reports.

Judge Susan Illston of the US District Court for the Northern District of California determined that federal employee unions are likely to prevail in their lawsuit, which argues that the government unlawfully approved reductions in force (RIFs) while the shutdown is in effect.

“If what plaintiffs allege is true, then the agencies’ actions in laying off thousands of public employees during a government shutdown — and in targeting for RIFs those programs that are perceived as favored by a particular political party — is the epitome of hasty, arbitrary and capricious decisionmaking,” Illston wrote.

She noted that the numerous errors cited by the plaintiffs supported claims of arbitrary decision-making. The judge further concluded that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directives instructing agencies to proceed with layoffs were unlawful.

“The memorandum thus essentially seeks to overturn mandates that Congress has put in place,” she wrote. “Neither the OMB/OPM documents themselves, nor defendants in their opposition papers, make any attempt to justify this position.”

White House Budget Director Russ Vought said in a radio interview that the actual number of employees expected to lose their jobs could be far higher than the 4,100 cited in court filings. He suggested the total may more than double as agency plans are finalized.

“And we’re going to keep these RIFs rolling throughout this shutdown because we think it’s important to stay on offense for the American taxpayer and the American people,” Vought said.

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