Judge Orders Reinstatement of Tens of Thousands of Fired Federal Workers

A federal judge has ruled that multiple federal agencies must reinstate probationary employees who were unlawfully terminated during the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce. Judge William Alsup criticized the mass firings as a 'sham' tactic used to bypass legal requirements, stating that the claims of poor job performance were misleading. The order impacts employees from the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Treasury, and Agriculture, mandating their immediate rehiring. This ruling is part of a broader legal challenge against the Trump administration's policies, with various lawsuits brought by Democratic attorneys general and labor unions. Alsup's decision highlights ongoing tensions regarding employment practices within the federal government amid ongoing litigation against the former administration's actions. The fate of these rulings could still change as appeals progress through the courts.