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3mo ago

Federal Oversight Challenges Legality of Trump Administration's Mass Firings of Probationary Workers

The Office of Special Counsel claims the terminations violate federal personnel laws, while the Trump administration defends them as lawful workforce restructuring.

FILE PHOTO: Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger poses for a portrait in an undated handout image. U.S. Office of Special Counsel/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has ruled that the mass firing of probationary federal employees likely violates federal laws governing reductions in force and personnel practices.
  • The OSC decision involves six specific cases but suggests broader implications for the legality of firing approximately 200,000 probationary workers under the Trump administration's workforce reduction strategy.
  • The Trump administration, supported by Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), argues the firings are lawful and aimed at streamlining the federal workforce and removing underperforming employees.
  • Critics, including unions and advocacy groups, claim the firings are politically motivated and circumvent proper legal procedures, with ongoing legal challenges and class-action lawsuits being filed.
  • The Merit Systems Protection Board has been asked to issue a stay on the firings, with potential for broader remedies, as debates continue over the legality and impact of these actions on federal operations.