William Freeman 2nd Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
William Freeman 2nd Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
A federal judge has mandated the Trump administration to reinstate around 20,000 probationary workers who were dismissed across 18 federal agencies. The decision was made by U.S. District Judge James Bredar, an appointee of former President Obama. Judge Bredar emphasized that the administration did not adhere to required protocols for mass layoffs.
“When the federal government terminates large numbers of its employees, including those still on probation because they were recently hired or promoted, it must follow certain rules,” stated Judge Bredar in his order. He further noted that the dismissals lacked individualized assessments and were conducted collectively without prior notice.
The lawsuit leading to this ruling was initiated by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating: “Time and time again, we are making clear that the President is not above the law.”
The court's decision affects all involved agencies except for the Defense Department, National Archives, and Office of Personnel Management. This ruling follows a separate decision from a San Francisco judge concerning similar issues with probationary employees.
In related developments earlier in the day, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered the rehiring of thousands of probationary workers across six other federal agencies due to similar circumstances.
President Trump’s efforts to reduce federal workforce size have faced legal challenges as he seeks to downsize government operations and cut perceived waste.
Alerts Sign-up