Federal Judges Block Trump Administration’s Mass Layoffs of Probationary Workers

Two federal court rulings have ordered the reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees, citing procedural violations in the Trump administration's workforce reduction plan.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling requiring the Trump administration to rehire probationary workers fired across six federal agencies, including Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Judges ruled the mass layoffs violated federal employment procedures, with one judge stating the Office of Personnel Management lacked the authority to execute such terminations.
President Trump criticized the rulings, calling them a dangerous overreach by the judiciary and suggesting the Supreme Court may need to intervene.
The administration has filed appeals, arguing that probationary workers lack full civil service protections and can be dismissed based on performance issues.
Legal challenges to the layoffs are part of broader litigation involving over 100 lawsuits against Trump administration policies since his inauguration.