In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge William Alsup has ordered the reinstatement of thousands of probationary federal employees who were terminated as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to downsize the federal workforce. The judge criticized the mass firings, labeling them a “sham” and asserting that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacked the legal authority to direct these terminations.
The affected employees, approximately 24,000 individuals, were dismissed from six federal departments: Defense, Treasury, Energy, Interior, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs. The OPM had justified the firings on the grounds of performance issues; however, Judge Alsup highlighted that many of these employees had recently received positive evaluations, undermining the performance-based rationale.
The judge’s ruling mandates that the implicated agencies offer immediate reinstatement to the terminated employees and submit a compliance report within seven days. This decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of unions and labor organizations, which argued that the firings not only adversely affected the agencies but also had broader implications for public services and the rule of law.
President Trump defended the mass firings, asserting that many federal workers “don’t work at all” and emphasizing his administration’s commitment to increasing government efficiency.
“Many of them didn’t show up to work, unfortunately,’ Trump said dismissively.
The ruling has been praised by labor leaders and advocates for federal employees. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, described the decision as a “victory for due process and the dedicated public servants who keep our government running.” Similarly, Representative Gerry Connolly emphasized the importance of reinstating dedicated civil servants to ensure the effective functioning of federal agencies.