Topic: US News
by MPeriod
Posted 9 months ago
This article discusses a recent ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco regarding the unlawful mass firings of probationary federal employees. The ruling provides temporary relief to labor unions and organizations who have raised concerns about these firings initiated by the Trump administration.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful. He ordered the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to notify federal agencies that it had no authority to mandate the firings.
Alsup stated, “OPM does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe,” to hire or fire employees outside its own agency.
The lawsuit was filed by five labor unions and five nonprofit organizations, addressing the recent firings of thousands of probationary employees under the Trump administration’s workforce reduction plans. Although the government attorneys agreed that OPM lacks authority, they noted that OPM had asked agencies to evaluate the performance of probationary employees.
Danielle Leonard, an attorney for the coalition, emphasized that the ruling sends a warning to federal agencies regarding the legality of the firings, although it does not guarantee reemployment for those already terminated.
Judge Alsup is particularly concerned about firings at the Department of Defense. He ordered Charles Ezell, the acting chief of the OPM, to provide testimony regarding a Feb. 13 call where agency heads were instructed to fire probationary employees.
There are around 200,000 probationary employees across federal agencies, with about 15,000 located in California. These employees provide essential services including fire prevention and veterans' care. The ongoing firings have been attributed to demands from Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency.
Labor unions have faced challenges in other lawsuits as well. Recently, a judge in Washington, D.C. denied a motion to block layoffs, citing the need for cases to be heard in federal labor court. Another judge in Massachusetts dismissed a challenge on the basis that the unions lacked legal standing.
Judge Alsup expressed concern over the impact of the firings on the workforce, highlighting the importance of probationary employees in government roles. He plans to issue a detailed written order, with an evidentiary hearing set for March 13.