SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that the mass firings of probationary employees by the Trump administration are likely to be unlawful. The ruling provides temporary relief to a coalition of labor unions and organizations that have filed a lawsuit against the administration’s actions. The judge stated that the Office of Personnel Management does not have the authority to order such firings, particularly at federal agencies like the Department of Defense.
The lawsuit, filed by five labor unions and five nonprofit organizations, is part of a larger effort to challenge the administration’s plans to reduce the federal workforce. Thousands of probationary employees have already been dismissed, and there are concerns that career officials with civil service protection may be targeted next.
While government lawyers acknowledge that the Office of Personnel Management cannot hire or fire employees in other agencies, they argue that the office requested agencies to review probationary employees for continued employment. The ruling by Judge Alsup has been celebrated by the coalition, although it does not automatically guarantee the rehiring of fired employees or prevent future firings.
The American Federation of Government Employees hailed the ruling as a victory for those who were wrongly terminated. The judge has ordered the personnel office to inform certain federal agencies represented by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Probationary employees, who make up around 200,000 workers within federal agencies, play a crucial role in government operations according to Judge Alsup. The lawsuit alleges that numerous agencies were instructed to terminate employees by using a template email, causing disruptions in various government services.
The judge’s decision highlights the importance of probationary employees and the impact of their dismissals on government functions. He plans to issue a written order and has scheduled an evidentiary hearing for March 13 to further address the matter. The ruling underscores the ongoing legal battles challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce.