Federal judge orders Trump administration to reinstate laid-off workers

Friday 14 March 2025 - 11:37

By: Zahouani Ilham

Federal judge orders Trump administration to reinstate laid-off workers

A federal judge in San Francisco ruled that President Donald Trump's administration must rehire thousands of probationary employees who were dismissed during mass layoffs across various federal agencies. The ruling criticized the administration’s approach and temporarily halted its efforts to significantly reduce the federal workforce.

US District Judge William Alsup determined that the terminations were carried out by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its acting director, Charles Ezell, who lacked the legal authority to make such decisions.

In response, the administration appealed the injunction to the Ninth Circuit Court. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the decision, arguing it undermined the executive branch's authority over hiring and firing decisions. She emphasized that the Trump administration would fight the ruling.

Alsup’s order mandates that several government departments, including Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior, and the Treasury, immediately offer to reinstate employees who were let go on or around February 13 and 14. These departments are required to report back within a week, providing a list of the affected employees and detailing how they are complying with the order.

The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of labor unions and advocacy groups, challenges the Trump administration’s attempts to cut the federal workforce. Erik Molvar, Executive Director of the Western Watersheds Project, one of the plaintiffs, criticized the mass firings, stating they not only harmed government agencies but also posed a threat to public lands, wildlife, and the rule of law.

Judge Alsup expressed concern over the government’s methods of reducing its workforce, particularly targeting probationary workers who lack legal protections and are unable to appeal their terminations. He was particularly disturbed by reports that employees were fired for poor performance despite receiving positive evaluations only months earlier.

Government attorneys argued that the mass firings were justified, asserting that each agency reviewed the probationary employees’ performance to determine their fitness for continued employment. However, Judge Alsup questioned the credibility of this claim, especially after Ezell failed to appear for a deposition or testify in court, and the government withdrew his written testimony.

The case is part of a broader legal challenge against the mass firings, with other courts also scrutinizing the Trump administration’s actions. In Maryland, another judge expressed skepticism regarding the legality of the terminations, while a judge in Washington, D.C., sided with the administration in a previous ruling.

There are approximately 200,000 probationary employees across federal agencies, many of whom are entry-level workers or recent promotions. In California alone, an estimated 15,000 workers are affected, providing critical services such as fire prevention and veterans’ care.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed that various agencies informed employees that their terminations were mandated by the personnel office, with template emails citing performance reasons for their dismissals.