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.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed that Democrats will block the Republican-crafted funding bill, raising the risk of a U.S. government shutdown by Friday night. With Republicans needing 60 votes to pass the measure,