Two U.S. District Judges, James Bredar and William Alsup, have ordered the Trump administration to reinstate probationary workers who were laid off in mass firings across multiple agencies. Bredar found that the administration had violated laws pertaining to large-scale layoffs and ordered the firings to be halted for at least two weeks. The ruling came after nearly two dozen states filed a lawsuit alleging the mass firings were illegal and impacting state governments as they try to assist those who lost their jobs. Alsup’s order specifically targeted six agencies, directing them to offer job reinstatements to terminated employees and report back within seven days.
The Trump administration has already appealed Alsup’s ruling, arguing that states do not have the right to intervene in the federal government’s relationship with its workers. The administration claimed the firings were based on performance issues and not classified as large-scale layoffs subject to specific regulations. Probationary workers have been a specific target for layoffs due to their lack of full civil service protection. Numerous lawsuits have been filed over these mass firings, with the government maintaining their legality by stating that individual agencies reviewed and determined the fitness of probationary employees for continued employment.
Alsup, appointed by President Bill Clinton, has expressed skepticism regarding the government’s claims. He planned to hold an evidentiary hearing but was unable to hear directly from acting director Charles Ezell, who did not testify in court or sit for a deposition. Despite the government retracting his written testimony, Alsup remains unconvinced of the legality of the mass firings. The situation affects an estimated 200,000 probationary workers within federal agencies, including both entry-level employees and those recently promoted.
The temporary restraining order issued by both judges came in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations as the Trump administration seeks to reduce the federal workforce. The administration has argued that the states do not have the authority to intervene in federal workforce management. However, the judges have ruled in favor of the terminated probationary workers, citing violations of laws governing large-scale layoffs. This ongoing legal battle highlights the challenges faced by probationary workers across federal agencies who have been targeted for layoffs.
Overall, the rulings from Judges Bredar and Alsup demonstrate a legal victory for probationary workers who were terminated in mass layoffs orchestrated by the Trump administration. The judges have placed temporary restraining orders on the administration, directing agencies to reinstate terminated employees and report back within a specific timeframe. The legal battle underscores the larger issue of federal workforce management and the rights of probationary workers who lack full civil service protection. The Trump administration’s appeal and continued defense of the mass firings indicate a contentious legal battle ahead concerning the legality and implications of the layoffs.
