Judge rules layoffs likely violated shutdown funding deal 

A federal judge reversed the terminations of hundreds of government employees Wednesday, ruling that the Trump administration likely violated the terms of the funding deal that ended the longest-ever government shutdown.  That deal prohibits agencies from carrying out a reduction in force (RIF) until Jan. 30.  The Trump administration asserted that RIFs announced prior to the shutdown could still move ahead, but U.S. District Judge Susan Illston rejected…