HOUSTON, United States

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration cannot fire federal workers during the ongoing US government shutdown, according to media reports.

US District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco, California extended her original temporary restraining order barring government workers from being terminated during the shutdown. It was set to expire on Wednesday.

Illston's new ruling indefinitely blocks President Donald Trump from firing any federal employees while a lawsuit challenging the legality of his order plays out in court.

Court filings showed that at least 4,200 federal workers have been given notice of losing their jobs since the government shutdown began on Oct. 1.

Illston, who was nominated by President Bill Clinton in January 1995 and was confirmed by the Senate in May the same year, has said that she believes the evidence will ultimately support the argument that the mass layoffs were illegal and in excess of presidential authority.

Under the new order, federal agencies are enjoined from firing workers and issuing notices of termination. Notices sent before the order was implemented do not apply.

Labor unions have sued to stop the "reductions in force" layoffs, saying the Trump administration was abusing its power to punish workers and pressure the US Congress to end the shutdown.

Trump's attorneys have argued that the president has broad authority to reduce the federal workforce, which he had pledged to do during his 2024 presidential campaign.

"The American people selected someone known above all else for his eloquence in communicating to employees that you're fired, which is what they voted for," Assistant US Attorney Michael Velchik said in a statement.

The current government shutdown is the second longest in US history.

Democrats and Republicans are so far not compromising on their demands for the government to re-open.

Democrats have said that expiring health care subsidies, which make health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans, need to be renewed.

In addition, they want a new government funding bill to reverse Medicaid cuts that Trump had implemented as part of his spending cuts bill, which was passed over the summer.

Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to negotiate with Democrats until they first agree to reopen the government.