Two judges ordered agencies to reinstate probationary workers fired as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce.
Two federal judges on Thursday ordered federal agencies to reinstate tens of thousands of probationary workers who had been fired as part of President Donald Trump’s plans to shrink the federal workforce.Why It Matters
Trump initiated mass firings of probationary employees across multiple agencies last month as part of his administration’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce. Probationary employees were targeted as they’re usually new to the job and lack full civil service protection.
However, multiple lawsuits filed over the mass firings alleged they were unlawful. Two judges concluded that the Trump administration used falsely cited „performance“ issues to expeditiously carry out the mass firings and ignored legally mandated procedures.
One lawsuit alleged that at least 24,000 probationary employees have been terminated since Trump took office, though the government has not confirmed that number. Federal agencies collectively employ more than 200,000 probationary workers, according to data reviewed by Newsweek.What To Know
U.S. District Judge William Alsup’s ruling on a lawsuit brought by federal employees‘ unions said that firings ordered by the Office of Personnel Management were unlawful. His order directed six departments—Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs—to offer reinstatement to probationary employees who were fired.
Then, U.S. District Judge James Bredar’s ruling, in a lawsuit brought by Democratic state attorneys general, found that the Trump administration did not follow rules set out for large-scale layoffs, including providing 60 days‘ advance notice.
He ordered agencies except at the Department of Defense and 13 others mentioned in Alsup’s order to rehire employees.
