Judge Blocks Mass Firings of Federal Probationary Employees

A federal judge in Northern California has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's mass firings of probationary federal employees, deeming the actions likely unlawful. Judge William Alsup ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacked the authority to mandate these firings across federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. This decision comes amid a coalition of labor unions and organizations that filed a lawsuit to halt the terminations. Concurrently, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has intervened to stay the firings of six specific probationary employees, citing evidence of prohibited personnel practices. This stay orders their reinstatement for 45 days while the Office of Special Counsel investigates the firings further. The combined legal actions highlight significant challenges to the administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce under controversial circumstances.