Overview

• Two federal judges ruled the Trump administration's mass termination of probationary federal workers violated regulations and ordered their reinstatement.
• Approximately 24,000 workers across 18 federal agencies are being reinstated, though many are placed on administrative leave rather than returning to full duties.
• The administration has appealed the rulings, arguing the terminations were performance-based, but courts found insufficient evidence to support this claim.
• The reinstatement process has created significant administrative challenges, with agencies reporting confusion, turmoil, and potential future employment uncertainty for affected workers.
• Judges have criticized the administration's compliance with reinstatement orders, stating that placing workers on administrative leave undermines the intent of restoring government services.