Two federal judges — one in California, one in Maryland — on Thursday ordered 19 federal agencies to rehire some 20,000 probationary employees who’d recently been fired as part of President Trump and Elon Musk’s massive government layoffs. The pair have also been blocked from further axing those agencies, including the Education Department, which announced this week it was reducing its workforce by roughly one-half. The measures provide some temporary relief as labor groups, Democratic attorneys general and others challenge the White House’s attempt to dismantle most federal agencies.

Separately on Thursday, another federal judge ordered Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency to hand over documents related to DOGE’s operations. The case was brought by 14 Democratic attorneys general and argues DOGE has been unconstitutionally ordering the mass federal layoffs.