International

Judge Orders Reinstatement of Federal Workers Fired by Trump Administration

Published

18 hours ago

Mar 14, 2025.

Dennis

NiDCOM Prepares for Deportation of Nigerians from U.S

Judge orders reinstatement of thousands of probationary federal employees fired by the Trump administration.
Court ruling challenges mass layoffs, calling them a “sham” to bypass proper procedures.
White House vows to fight the decision, arguing it undermines presidential authority.

A federal judge has ordered multiple U.S. government agencies to reinstate probationary employees who were dismissed en masse by the Trump administration last month.

Judge William Alsup condemned the mass firings as a “sham” designed to bypass legal protocols for workforce reductions. His ruling applies to thousands of workers across several departments, including Agriculture, Defence, Energy, Interior, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs.

EDITOR’S PICKS

During Thursday’s hearing, the Department of Justice (DOJ) argued that the dismissals were based on guidance—not a formal directive—from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). However, Judge Alsup rejected this claim, pointing to termination letters that explicitly cited OPM’s instructions.

“That should not have been done in our country,” Alsup stated. “It was a sham in order to avoid statutory requirements.”

Danielle Leonard, an attorney representing government employee unions, said the targeted workers were vulnerable because they lacked the right to appeal. Alsup also highlighted the case of a highly rated government worker in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was fired under the pretense of poor performance.

“It is a sad day when our government fires a good employee and falsely cites performance as the reason,” he remarked.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced the ruling, accusing the judge of attempting to “unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the executive branch.”

“This power rests with the president,” Leavitt said. “A single district court judge cannot override the entire judiciary to obstruct President Trump’s agenda.” She added that the administration would challenge the decision immediately.

Though Elon Musk was not mentioned in court, his role in federal downsizing through the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) loomed over the hearing. While the White House has denied that Musk is leading the effort, Trump recently referred to him as the agency’s head during a Congressional address.

Luz Fuller, a union leader in Sacramento, said Musk’s influence was evident. “He was on everybody’s mind,” she noted.

Watch Our Video Of The Week