U.S. Judge Orders Trump Administration To Rehire Fired Federal Workers

A federal judge in San Francisco has mandated the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of federal employees who were dismissed across multiple government agencies.

Federal Judge Declares Mass Firings Unlawful U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the mass layoffs, directed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its acting director, Charles Ezell, were executed without proper authority. The decision compels the administration to immediately reinstate affected employees.

White House Challenges the Ruling In response, the Trump administration swiftly filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the ruling, labeling it an overreach into executive powers related to hiring and firing federal employees. “The administration will aggressively challenge this unconstitutional directive,” she stated.

Affected Departments Ordered to Comply Alsup’s directive affects several federal agencies, including the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. These departments must reinstate workers who were terminated on or around February 13-14. Additionally, they must submit compliance reports within seven days, detailing the list of probationary employees and how they adhered to the ruling.

Lawsuit Filed by Labor Unions The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and advocacy groups, arguing that the Republican administration’s move to downsize the federal workforce was unlawful. Erik Molvar, executive director of the Western Watersheds Project, stated, “These mass terminations not only undermine government operations but also threaten public lands, wildlife, and legal standards.”

Judge Criticizes Government’s Justification Judge Alsup expressed concern over the administration’s reasoning for the firings, particularly the claim that they were performance-based. Employees who received positive evaluations just months prior were suddenly dismissed, raising suspicions about the true motives behind the layoffs. “It is disheartening when a government fires competent employees under false pretenses,” Alsup remarked.

Government Defends Decision Federal attorneys maintain that the mass terminations were lawful, asserting that each agency independently assessed probationary employees’ qualifications. However, Alsup questioned these claims, noting that OPM’s acting director, Ezell, failed to appear for testimony, further casting doubt on the administration’s defense.

Additional Lawsuits and Nationwide Impact The case is one of several legal challenges against the administration’s workforce reduction efforts. Another federal judge in Maryland has also expressed skepticism over the legality of the mass firings, while a judge in Washington, D.C., recently ruled in favor of the government, requiring terminated employees to seek redress through standard employment procedures.

With approximately 200,000 probationary employees across federal agencies—15,000 of whom are based in California—this ruling carries significant implications for federal employment policies.

For further details, visit The Washington Post.