The order by Judge William Alsup, who called the OPM directive "illegal," does not reinstate any recently dismissed government employees, but it could affect future attempts at firings.

A federal judge ruled Thursday the Trump administration’s push to fire newer government workers en masse is likely illegal, according to multiple reports —the latest in a string of court rulings involving Trump and cost-cutting czar Elon Musk’s sweeping changes across the federal government.

The judge said that the Office of Personnel Management had no authority to order government organizations to fire workers.

A San Francisco judge slammed the Office of Personnel Management over its demand for various department agencies to cut probationary workers.

A federal judge in California ordered the retraction of the memos. He suggested, but did not order, that the layoffs be stopped.