Sacramento: A federal judge in California has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s efforts to order mass dismissals across multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense.
During a Thursday hearing, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacks the authority to direct agencies to fire employees, including probationary workers who typically have less than a year of experience.
Administrative Overhaul Sparks Opposition
Republican President Donald Trump, in collaboration with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who oversees the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has pushed an unprecedented initiative to downsize the federal workforce. Their efforts have been met with significant opposition from Democrats, labor unions, and federal employees, who argue that the proposed job cuts are illegal and could disrupt critical government functions.
Despite the administration’s push, the backlash has forced officials to recall personnel in key roles. However, Trump remains firmly aligned with Musk’s objective of reducing the federal budget by $1 trillion from its current $6.7 trillion expenditure.
Economic Feasibility Concerns
Budget analysts caution that Musk—who also leads SpaceX and Tesla (TSLA.O)—may struggle to reach his financial targets solely by cutting jobs and curbing inefficiencies. Experts suggest that achieving such reductions may necessitate scaling back government programs, including public benefits.
On Thursday, reports surfaced that hundreds of probationary employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which conducts climate research, were notified of their impending termination, according to sources familiar with the matter. NOAA officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, concerns of sweeping layoffs extend beyond NOAA. At the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the head of the Transformation and Strategy Office—comprising 60 employees focused on modernization—warned that the entire department could be disbanded. A source indicated that David Padrino, the office’s chief, informed staff of his impending resignation, effective a week from Friday, amid expectations of drastic workforce reductions.
Forced Relocations and Widespread Impact
OPM has also instructed at least two dozen of its remote employees to relocate to Washington, D.C., to retain their positions. They have been given until March 7 to make their decision.
In his ruling, Alsup ordered OPM to retract a January 20 memo and a February 14 email that instructed agencies to identify non-“mission-critical” probationary employees for termination.
Alsup noted that while he could not directly prohibit the Defense Department—expected to dismiss 5,400 probationary employees on Friday—or other agencies from executing firings, he underscored the significant damage mass layoffs could inflict on essential services. These include national parks, scientific research, and veteran assistance programs.
“Probationary employees are the lifeblood of our government. They come in at a low level and work their way up. That’s how we renew ourselves,” Alsup stated.
The White House and the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately comment on the ruling.
Legal and Political Battle
The lawsuit against the administration was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees—one of the largest federal employee unions—alongside four other unions and nonprofit organizations advocating for veterans’ services and national park conservation.
The Trump administration contends that the OPM directives merely encouraged agencies to review their probationary workforce and determine potential cuts, rather than mandating terminations. However, Justice Department attorney Kelsey Helland acknowledged during the hearing that “an order is not usually phrased as a request.”
Judge Alsup appeared skeptical, suggesting that it was unlikely every federal agency independently decided to implement sweeping staff reductions.
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As part of his ruling, Alsup mandated that OPM inform the Defense Department by Friday that its memo and email regarding probationary employee terminations are invalid. The same directive must be communicated to other affected agencies, including the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, where reductions could significantly impact nonprofit organizations involved in the lawsuit.
The injunction remains in place while the court evaluates the legal challenge, which argues that OPM lacks authority over federal hiring and firing decisions. The plaintiffs contend that OPM’s directive constitutes a formal rule change, which requires adherence to a lengthy administrative approval process.
Looming Uncertainty
Despite the temporary block, federal agencies had already begun terminating probationary employees earlier this month. Additionally, a second wave of mass layoffs targeting career employees commenced this week. On Wednesday, the White House issued a directive requiring agencies to submit plans by March 13 outlining a “significant reduction” in staffing.
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Unions have filed multiple lawsuits challenging Trump’s workforce restructuring efforts, but legal hurdles have complicated their efforts. The battle over federal employment policies is expected to continue as the administration pushes forward with its broader government overhaul.
