In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge William Alsup has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate approximately 24,000 probationary federal employees who were terminated as part of a widespread workforce reduction initiative. The affected departments include Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Interior, and Treasury.
The mass terminations, executed in February 2025, were directed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under acting director Charles Ezell. The administration cited poor performance as the justification for these firings. However, Judge Alsup criticized this rationale, stating it was a “lie” and asserting that the OPM lacked the legal authority to mandate such widespread dismissals.
Labor unions and advocacy groups challenged the firings, arguing that the administration’s actions violated federal employment laws and due process rights. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) led the lawsuit, emphasizing the unjust nature of the terminations and the significant impact on the livelihoods of thousands of federal workers.
Judge Alsup’s ruling not only mandates the immediate reinstatement of the affected employees but also requires the six departments to report their compliance within seven days. The judge further barred the OPM from issuing any directives related to employee terminations, highlighting the agency’s overreach in this matter.
The administration’s attempt to downsize the federal workforce has faced significant legal challenges. In a related development, Judge Alsup has ordered Charles Ezell to testify regarding the mass firings, threatening sanctions if he fails to comply. The judge criticized the administration for its lack of transparency and failure to provide evidence supporting the terminations.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in checking executive actions that may overstep legal boundaries. The reinstatement of these employees is a significant victory for federal labor unions and sets a precedent for protecting workers’ rights against unauthorized administrative actions.
Sources:
- Judge orders Trump administration to reinstate most fired probationary staff
- S.F. judge orders immediate reinstatement of fired federal workers
- Judge orders Trump to reinstate probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies
- Federal judge orders agencies to rehire workers, calls process a “sham”
- S.F. judge to Trump official: Testify on federal employee firings or face sanctions
