A U.S. judge has stopped a Trump‑era plan that would have cut thousands of federal jobs, a move that could ease pressure on the aviation sector as the government faces another shutdown threat.
The judge, a federal district judge in Arizona, blocked a new order from the Office of Personnel Management that aimed to lay off about 7,000 federal employees. The plan was meant to reduce costs ahead of a potential furlough bill, but critics argued that the cuts could be illegal under the Civil Service Reform Act.
The decision arrives just weeks after lawmakers said the federal budget could run out of money. If a shutdown happens, the move to eliminate federal workers would have been enforced, adding uncertainty to airlines and airport operators that rely on federal staff for air traffic control, security, and ground services.
Airlines, from United to Southwest, have warned that a shutdown would disrupt flight operations and threaten schedules. The federal government supports the industry, but many pilots are still waiting for clear guidance on how a partial or full shutdown would affect flight crews.
By halting the layoffs, the judge helped keep federal personnel on payroll and may give regulators more breathing room to negotiate a shutdown resolution. The aviation industry remains on edge, but the ruling removes at least one obstacle that could have forced a sudden loss of crucial support staff.
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