Court Blocks Trump's Mass Firings of Probationary Federal Employees

A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered the Trump administration to reverse mass firings of probationary federal employees, deeming such actions likely unlawful. U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacks the authority to mandate firings across federal agencies, a power that belongs to the agencies themselves. The decision, stemming from a lawsuit by labor unions and advocacy groups, highlights concerns that OPM's actions violated employment laws and affected tens of thousands of workers. Alsup emphasized that OPM does not have statutory authority over hiring and firing at other agencies, asserting that the agency's directives amounted to a significant employment fraud. The ruling adds to a series of legal setbacks for Trump's workforce reduction efforts, following recent court decisions blocking other controversial policies. The government contended that OPM merely requested reviews of probationary employee statuses, but the judge's ruling challenges this interpretation.