Washington, D.C.: A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump cannot swiftly terminate thousands of probationary federal workers in 19 states and Washington, D.C., narrowing an earlier nationwide injunction.
U.S. District Judge James Bredar, presiding in Baltimore, Maryland, stated that federal agencies must adhere to established procedures for mass layoffs when dismissing large numbers of probationary employees. The administration, he noted, failed to comply with these requirements when it dismissed approximately 24,500 workers in February without providing prior notice to state and local governments.
However, Bredar clarified that his jurisdiction allows him to mandate the reinstatement of employees only in states that challenged the firings in court. The lawsuit, filed primarily by Democratic-led states alongside Washington, D.C., aims to overturn the mass terminations.
Legal Battle Over Mass Firings
The White House has yet to issue a response to the ruling. Meanwhile, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, whose office led the lawsuit, strongly criticized the Trump administration’s justification for the dismissals.
“This was a coordinated effort to eliminate the federal workforce – even if it meant breaking the law,” Brown said in a statement, disputing the administration’s claim that the workers were fired due to poor performance.
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Probationary employees typically have less than a year of service in their current roles, though some have extensive federal work experience. The case has drawn significant attention, given the large concentration of federal workers in Washington, D.C., and surrounding states like Maryland. Additionally, populous states such as California, New York, and Illinois are among the plaintiffs.
Court Rulings and Ongoing Appeals
Bredar had previously ruled on March 13 that the mass firings were likely unlawful, ordering 18 federal agencies to reinstate the dismissed workers pending further litigation. Tuesday’s decision maintains that order while the case continues, a process that could extend for months or even longer.
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The Trump administration has appealed the judge’s initial ruling, arguing that the terminations were lawful and that Bredar overstepped his authority by mandating reinstatements. A U.S. appeals court panel previously declined to halt the ruling, but a Trump-appointed judge expressed concerns over the broad, nationwide scope of Bredar’s injunction.
