Federal Judge Orders Trump To Reinstate Fired Employees

In a significant ruling, a federal judge has determined that the Trump administration must reinstate a group of probationary federal employees who were unlawfully dismissed from several government agencies. The decision, issued on Thursday, comes amid ongoing legal battles over mass terminations within the federal workforce.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup expanded his previous ruling, now requiring the reinstatement of employees who were dismissed on February 13 and 14 from multiple departments, including Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. This decision marks a major development in the broader legal challenges surrounding the Trump administration’s restructuring of the federal bureaucracy, an effort that has led to numerous lawsuits.

At the center of this case is the firing of probationary employees—those typically in their first or second year of government service. These employees often lack the same protections as tenured federal workers, making their dismissals easier but still subject to legal scrutiny. The lawsuit argues that the firings violated established laws and proper procedures.

Judge Alsup delivered his ruling in court after harshly criticizing the Justice Department for withdrawing a sworn statement from Charles Ezell, the acting head of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The withdrawal of this declaration meant that Ezell avoided testifying under oath and facing cross-examination, despite a prior court order requiring him to do so.

Expressing his frustration, Judge Alsup did not mince words. “Come on, that’s a sham,” he stated during the hearing. “It upsets me, I want you to know that. I’ve been practicing or serving in this court for over 50 years, and I know how to get at the truth.” He went on to accuse the government of providing “press releases” and “sham documents” rather than genuine evidence.

Ezell is a key figure in this lawsuit, which was brought forward by a coalition of federal employee unions. The case centers on claims that OPM, under Ezell’s direction, orchestrated the dismissals rather than allowing individual agencies to make those decisions. The unions argue that this overreach violated both federal employment laws and the constitutional principle of separation of powers.

This ruling is part of a larger pushback against the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce, a move that has sparked numerous legal challenges. The decision to reinstate these employees could have significant implications for other similar cases still making their way through the courts.