Democrats have argued that the shutdown fight is an opportunity to push back on Elon Musk-backed agency spending and staff cuts.

The judge also said the freeze on roughly $2 billion in foreign aid likely "flouted" the Constitution. Department of Veterans Affairs employees and veterans fired from other agencies as part of the Trump administration's slashing of federal jobs would be reinstated with full back pay and benefits under a bill being introduced in the coming days by a top Democrat.