Federal Board Temporarily Reinstates Thousands of Fired USDA Workers

The Merit Systems Protection Board ruled that the mass terminations of probationary employees violated federal regulations, granting a 45-day reinstatement for further investigation.

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.