Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Rehire Probationary Workers

A federal judge has mandated the reinstatement of probationary federal workers dismissed in mass layoffs across multiple agencies under the Trump administration.

In a significant ruling on Thursday, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco ordered the Trump administration to bring back thousands of probationary employees who were fired from various federal agencies, including Defense, Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by labor unions and advocacy groups against the mass terminations orchestrated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which they argue contravene the Administrative Procedure Act and other congressional statutes governing federal employment practices.

The controversy intensified during a recent House Ways and Means Committee session where Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., criticized the administration’s approach to federal workforce management. Judge Alsup, during the hearing, expressed strong disapproval of the OPM’s actions, describing the situation as a ‘sham’ and criticizing the absence of OPM representatives to testify, which he said hindered the court’s ability to uncover the truth.

The Trump administration is preparing to appeal the ruling, signaling ongoing tension and legal battles over federal employment policies. Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, hailed the decision as a critical victory for the affected workers, emphasizing their dedication to public service and the abrupt nature of their dismissals. As protests continue outside federal buildings in Washington, D.C., the ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle over the management of the federal workforce under the current administration.