'Likely unlawful': Judge halts mass firings of federal workers
What's the story
A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily halted the Donald Trump administration's mass firings of probationary federal employees.
US District Judge William Alsup's decision came after a coalition of labor unions and organizations filed a lawsuit against the administration's workforce reduction efforts.
Alsup ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacked authority to order these firings, particularly affecting agencies like the Department of Defense.
Role clarification
OPM's authority and role in firings questioned
Alsup emphasized that the OPM has no authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire or fire employees outside its own agency.
This ruling was in response to a temporary restraining order sought by the plaintiffs, who argue OPM's actions were unlawful.
The Trump administration has already terminated thousands of probationary workers and plans to dismiss thousands more.
Denial issued
OPM director denies mass termination program
Charles Ezell, acting director of OPM, claimed in a sworn statement that OPM did not conduct a "mass termination program" nor direct agencies to terminate employees based on performance or misconduct.
Instead, Ezell noted that individual agencies were responsible for their staffing decisions.
However, he admitted to issuing guidance suggesting that probationary employees were not finalized hires and that agencies should manage staffing levels.
Workforce impact
Probationary workers bear the brunt of workforce reduction
The Trump administration's workforce reduction efforts have largely focused on probationary workers, who typically have less than a year on the job and less protection from termination than longer-serving employees.
There are roughly 200,000 probationary workers across federal agencies, including about 15,000 in California alone.
These workers perform essential services like fire prevention and veterans' care.
Legal battle
Unions celebrate ruling, vow to continue legal fight
Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, termed the ruling "an important initial victory" for those unlawfully fired.
He slammed OPM's directive as "illegal" and promised further legal action against these workforce reductions.
"Our union will keep fighting until we put a stop to these demoralizing and damaging attacks on our civil service once and for all," he said.