US Judge blocks mass firings of federal workers, calls government overreach likely illegal

New Delhi, Feb 28: A federal judge in San Francisco ruled on Thursday that firing large numbers of probationary federal employees was likely illegal, offering temporary relief to labour unions fighting the Trump administration’s push to cut government jobs. CNN, citing the Associated Press, reported.

The ruling temporarily halts one of the Trump administration’s biggest attempts to reduce the federal workforce. The case focuses on whether the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), led by acting director Charles Ezell, had the authority to tell agencies to lay off probationary employees, those who have been in their jobs for a short period.

During a court hearing, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered OPM to notify federal agencies, including the Department of Defence, that it lacked the power to order these layoffs. His decision could immediately stop mass firings of probationary federal workers.

“OPM does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe,” Alsup said as quoted by CNN

The lawsuit, filed by labour unions and nonprofit groups, argues that OPM had no right to fire probationary employees, many of whom had been in their jobs for less than a year. The plaintiffs claim the administration falsely justified the firings by blaming poor worker performance.

Ezell, in a sworn statement, denied that OPM was running a "mass termination program" and insisted that agencies were responsible for evaluating employees. However, he admitted he had sent guidance to agencies about managing their workforce, including reminding them that probationary employees were not guaranteed long-term employment.

So far, thousands of probationary employees have been let go, including at the IRS, and the administration has promised further job cuts. Trump has frequently criticised the federal workforce as inefficient.

President of the American Federation of Government Employees welcomed the decision however said that fight is not over calling indiscriminate firing illegal.

Other lawsuits challenging the administration’s job cuts have not succeeded in court. However, this case stands out because of the focus on OPM’s direct involvement. Some probationary workers have already won temporary reinstatement through the Merit Systems Protection Board, and lawyers hope to extend that decision to thousands of others.

Alsup has ordered the Trump administration to provide evidence in the case by next week, with a hearing scheduled for mid-March