Appeals Court Upholds Reinstatement of Thousands of Federal Workers

A federal appeals court has upheld a district court ruling that reinstates thousands of probationary employees who were fired by the Trump administration across six federal agencies, including Defense and Agriculture. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the government's request for an administrative stay, emphasizing that halting the reinstatement would disrupt the status quo. The majority opinion, issued by Judges Barry Silverman and Ana de Alba, stated that the employees were wrongfully terminated, while Judge Bridget Bade dissented, warning of potential administrative chaos from the reinstatement. U.S. District Judge William Alsup had previously ordered the rehiring, criticizing the manner of the terminations as misleading and lacking proper justification. The White House condemned the decision, labeling it unconstitutional and asserting that it undermines executive hiring powers. This legal battle reflects ongoing tensions over federal employment policies initiated during Trump's presidency.