Overview

• The U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board has ordered the temporary reinstatement of nearly 6,000 probationary employees fired by the Department of Agriculture since February 13, 2025.
• The board found reasonable grounds to believe the firings violated federal laws, as they were part of a reorganization rather than performance-based dismissals.
• The reinstatement lasts for 45 days while the Office of Special Counsel investigates allegations of improper terminations across multiple federal agencies.
• Judge William Alsup recently ruled that the Office of Personnel Management lacked the authority to mandate terminations, prompting the Trump administration to revise its guidance on firing probationary employees.
• The mass firings are part of broader efforts by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to significantly reduce the federal workforce.