A California judge has ruled against the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate recently hired probationary federal workers. This decision came during a court hearing related to a lawsuit brought forth by labor unions challenging the legality of mass terminations ordered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The unions argue that the mass dismissals breach the Administrative Procedure Act and violate established laws concerning hiring and firing practices within government agencies. The judge confirmed that OPM does not have the authority to fire employees, including those who may still be in their probationary period.
In a previous case, a federal judge allowed the Trump administration to continue with its plans to eliminate inefficient positions within the government. This ruling supports the Department of Government Efficiency’s mission to identify and cut unnecessary government spending.
The National Treasury Employees Union and several other labor unions filed a complaint in early February regarding the planned layoffs of probationary employees. They sought a temporary pause on these firings to review their legality.
The unions’ recent plea was denied, with the judge stating that their claims need to be pursued under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, which involves administrative reviews by the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
This situation highlights ongoing tensions between federal employee unions and the administration, as the government continues to push for reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability.
