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In a major legal rebuke to the Trump administration, a federal judge in California has ordered several government departments to reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were abruptly fired last month.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled Thursday that the departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, Interior, Agriculture, and Treasury must offer reinstatement to any probationary employees terminated on February 13, the date the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agencies to carry out mass firings.
Alsup condemned the administration’s actions, stating that OPM’s directive—delivered via memo and a conference call—was unlawful.
“It is a sad day when our government fires good employees and claims it was based on performance, knowing full well that’s a lie,” Alsup said in his ruling. He emphasized that while workforce reductions can be legal, they must be executed within the framework of federal law.
The Justice Department, which has already filed an appeal, declined to comment.
White House Pushes Back, Calls Ruling ‘Absurd’
The Trump administration swiftly responded to the ruling, arguing that it overstepped judicial authority.
“A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “If a federal district court judge would like executive powers, they can try and run for President themselves. The Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order.”
The ruling is the latest development in the administration’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce. Critics say the firings were designed to gut agencies, while officials argue they were necessary cost-cutting measures.
Legal Battle Over Mass Firings Intensifies
The mass terminations targeted probationary employees—workers who are still within their first year or two of employment and generally have fewer job protections. Plaintiffs’ attorney Danielle Leonard argued that the administration strategically targeted this group to avoid legal pushback.
“This has been the plan since the very beginning,” Leonard said. “Fire them all because they can’t appeal.”
Alsup echoed this concern in court, criticizing the administration for refusing to provide testimony from OPM’s acting director, Charles Ezell, despite a court order.
“You’re not helping me get at the truth,” the judge told government attorneys. “It upsets me. I want you to know that.”
The ruling also requires federal agencies to follow proper legal procedures before terminating probationary employees in the future. Agencies must now comply with the Civil Service Reform Act and the Reduction in Force Act when making employment decisions.
Additionally, Alsup demanded a full list of all fired employees and an update on how agencies are complying with his reinstatement order.
Federal Unions Applaud Decision
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), praised the court’s decision, calling it a “major victory for federal workers wrongfully terminated by an administration hellbent on crippling federal agencies.”
While Alsup previously declared OPM’s firing directive illegal, this is the first time he has ordered agencies to reinstate the affected employees. “OPM does not have any authority whatsoever under any statute in the history of the universe to hire and fire employees within another agency,” he said last month.
Further Court Challenges on the Horizon
The legal battle is far from over. The Justice Department has signaled its intent to appeal the ruling, while other courts are weighing similar cases.
Just last week, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board determined that the firing of over 5,000 probationary employees at the Department of Agriculture may have been unlawful, ordering their temporary reinstatement. However, plaintiffs claim that while these workers were placed back on payroll, they have yet to be allowed to resume work.
Meanwhile, in Maryland, U.S. District Judge James Bredar is reviewing a related case in which multiple states have argued that the mass firings constituted an unlawful reduction in force. During a hearing, Bredar suggested he may issue an order restoring all terminated probationary employees to their positions.
“This case isn’t about whether or not the government can terminate people,” Bredar stated. “It’s about if they decide to terminate people, how they must do it.”
A written ruling from Bredar is expected soon, potentially setting the stage for more legal clashes between the judiciary and the Trump administration.
