A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to rehire thousands of probationary workers sacked in recent mass firings across multiple agencies.
In mid-February, the Republican administration intensified its efforts to slash the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay-off nearly all probationary employees who had not yet gained civil service protection.
However, US District Judge William Alsup said the terminations were directed by the Office of Personnel Management and its acting director, Charles Ezell, who lacked authority to do so.
The administration immediately filed an appeal against the injunction.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the ruling as an attempt to encroach on executive power to hire and fire employees.
"The Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order," she said in a statement.
Judge Alsup's order directed the departments of veterans affairs, agriculture, defense, energy, the interior and the treasury to immediately offer job reinstatement to employees terminated on or about February 13 and 14.
He also directed the departments to report back within seven days with a list of probationary employees and an explanation of how the agencies complied with his order as to each person.
Claims mass firings a 'direct assault'
The temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labour unions and organisations.
Erik Molvar is executive director of Western Watersheds Project, one of the plaintiffs, and said the mass firings were not only an attack on government, agencies and their ability to function.
"They were also a direct assault on public lands, wildlife, and the rule of law," he said.
Judge Alsup slammed what he labelled the government's attempt to sidestep laws and regulations governing a reduction in its workforce — which it is allowed to do — by firing probationary workers who lack protections and cannot appeal.
He said he was appalled employees were told they were being fired for poor performance despite receiving glowing evaluations just months earlier.
"It is sad, a sad day, when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie," he said.
"That should not have been done in our country."
Lawyers for the government maintain the mass firings were lawful because individual agencies reviewed and determined whether employees on probation were fit for continued employment.
AP
