Judge Orders Trump Admin to Rehire Probationary Workers Fired En Masse

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A judge in Maryland has temporarily halted the widespread dismissal of provisional federal employees and instructed that thousands of terminated workers should be brought back, making this the second such ruling within 24 hours.

The directive issued by U.S. District Judge James Bredar arrived late Thursday as part of a lawsuit initiated by 19 states and Washington D.C., targeting several federal agencies. The plaintiffs allege that these widespread terminations violate the law.

The states argue that the Trump administration caught them off guard by disregarding laws established for significant workforce reductions, impacting state governments as they attempt to assist those who unexpectedly lost their jobs. The lawsuit claims that since President Donald Trump assumed office, at least 24,000 probationary workers have been laid off. However, when asked during a court hearing on Wednesday to provide an estimation of this number, a government lawyer was unable to do so.

The Trump administration contends that states do not possess the authority to attempt shaping the federal government’s interactions with its employees. Trump, who belongs to the Republican party, claims his focus is on addressing fraud, waste, and misuse within an overextended federal bureaucracy.

This is an update to breaking news. The previous report from AP is as follows:

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge in San Francisco has instructed President Donald Trump’s administration to reinstate thousands, potentially even tens of thousands, of temporary employees who were terminated. mass firings Across various agencies, he criticized their strategies on Thursday as he restrained the new president’s significant reduction of the federal government.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup stated that the dismissals were ordered by the Office of Personnel Management and its acting director, Charles Ezell, who did not have the necessary authority to initiate such actions.

The administration promptly lodged an appeal of the injunction with the Ninth Circuit Court right away. Earlier on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the ruling as an effort to undermine the executive branch’s authority over hiring and firing staff members. She stated, "The Trump Administration will swiftly counter this ridiculous and unconstitutional directive."

Aldridge's directive instructs the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior, and the Treasury to promptly reinstate jobs for employees who were let go around February 13th and 14th. Additionally, he required these departments to provide feedback within one week detailing probationary staff members along with an account of how they adhered to this instruction regarding every individual involved.

A provisional injunction was issued as part of a legal case brought forth by a coalition of labor unions and groups, coinciding with the Republican-led government’s efforts to decrease the federal workforce .

These widespread firings of federal employees weren’t merely an assault on government agencies and their functionality; they also constituted a direct threat to public lands, wildlife, and the enforcement of legal standards," stated Erik Molvar, who serves as the executive director for the Western Watersheds Project and is among the plaintiffs.

Alsup voiced irritation over what he termed the government’s effort to evade laws and rules overseeing staff reductions—something within their rights to implement—by dismissing probationary employees who have limited safeguards and no recourse for appeals.

He was shocked to learn that staff members were informed they were let go due to inadequate job performance, even though their reviews had been highly positive only months prior.

It's disheartening, indeed a sorrowful day, when our administration chooses to dismiss capable employees under the pretense of poor performance, despite knowing full well this claim is false," he stated. "Such actions ought not be tolerated in our nation.

The lawyers representing the government argue that the large-scale dismissals were legal since each agency individually assessed and confirmed whether the probationary employees were suitable for ongoing employment.

However, Judge Alsup, nominated by President Bill Clinton—a member of the Democratic Party—has struggled to accept this. Initially, he intended to conduct an evidentiary hearing on Thursday. Nevertheless, Larry Ezell, the interim head of OPM, failed to show up for either courtroom testimony or a deposition, and the government withdrew his previously submitted written statement.

"I understand the process for uncovering the truth, and you're not assisting me in this," Alsup told Kelsey Helland, who is a U.S. assistant attorney.

The judge urged the government to consider an appeal.

One of several legal challenges involving widespread layoffs, this case was discussed during a court session where another judge in Maryland expressed doubt about the Trump administration’s stance. Meanwhile, a different judge presiding in Washington D.C., issued a ruling against labor unions earlier last month, stating that terminated employees must go through procedures outlined under employment legislation.

It is believed that approximately 200,000 probationary workers are employed within federal agencies. These individuals encompass both new entrants and those who have recently been promoted.

Approximately 15,000 people work in California, offering services such as wildfire protection and veteran support, states the legal complaint submitted by a group consisting of trade unions and nonprofits advocating for park preservation, military personnel benefits, and local enterprises.

In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs stated that various agencies notified employees that the personnel office had instructed the dismissals, accompanied by guidance to utilize a standardized email claiming the termination was due to performance issues.

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Witte provided coverage from Annapolis, Maryland. Whitehurst reported from Washington.

Janie Hahn, Brian Witte, and Lindsay Whitehurst from The Associated Press