by Admin
15/03/2025
A federal judge in San Francisco on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to rehire the probationary federal employees it dismissed shortly after assuming office, a decision that challenges the administration’s sweeping efforts to reduce the workforce.
District Judge William Alsup ruled that the mass terminations, which were directed by the Office of Personnel Management under acting director Charles Ezell, violated legal authority.
His temporary restraining order requires the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury to immediately reinstate those fired around February 13 and 14.
Each agency must also submit a list of the affected employees and explain their compliance with the ruling within seven days.
In response, the White House quickly appealed the decision with the Ninth Circuit Court, arguing that the order improperly interfered with the executive branch’s constitutional power to hire and fire.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the ruling as “absurd and unconstitutional,” asserting that the administration would fight back against what it sees as an overreach.
The ruling comes amid a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and advocacy groups, which argues that the mass dismissals not only cripple government operations but also undermine public confidence in federal institutions.
“It is a sad day when our government fires good employees under pretenses of poor performance,” Judge Alsup stated, pointing to instances where workers with recent favorable evaluations were terminated.
While government lawyers maintain that each agency independently determined that the probationary workers were unfit for continued service, Judge Alsup expressed doubt, noting that acting OPM director Ezell failed to testify or provide his written testimony a key element in the case.
He indicated that these shortcomings were part of a broader attempt to circumvent established laws and regulations governing workforce reductions.
The judge encouraged the administration to appeal the ruling as the legal battle over the downsizing of the federal workforce continues.