A federal judge in Maryland has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily reinstate thousands of federal employees who were recently fired. The judge found that the federal agencies acted unlawfully during these mass layoffs. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar issued a 14-day stay in a case brought by 20 Democratic attorneys general from various states, including Maryland and the District of Columbia.
This ruling came shortly after another federal judge in San Francisco made a similar decision, reinstating workers from six federal agencies. The Trump administration has already appealed both rulings.
In his decision, Judge Bredar emphasized that the agencies had not followed proper procedures for layoffs. The attorneys general argued that agencies misled probationary employees, claiming they were being let go for performance reasons when, in fact, the agencies were trying to reduce their workforce without proper evaluations. They also pointed out that the agencies failed to provide the required 60 days’ notice before the layoffs.
Bredar agreed with the states, noting that they were unprepared for the sudden increase in unemployment. He stated that the states needed time to address the needs of those affected and that the mass firings violated federal law. His order covers probationary employees nationwide and affects various federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Homeland Security.
The judge did exclude the Defense Department and a few others from his order, as the evidence presented was insufficient to support claims of illegal firings there. Under federal law, states must have rapid response teams to assist workers impacted by mass layoffs, aiming to minimize reliance on public assistance.
The states also highlighted that the layoffs were hurting their economies by increasing unemployment claims and reducing tax revenue. The government, however, argued that the states were not experiencing direct harm and questioned their authority to bring the case to federal court.
Judge Bredar countered this, stating that the states have a vested interest in the welfare of their residents when a large employer like the federal government suddenly lays off thousands of workers. He pointed out that while the government has the right to reorganize, it must do so legally.
This case is part of a broader legal challenge against the Trump administration’s mass firings of probationary employees in recent weeks. The Merit Systems Protection Board has already ordered the reinstatement of nearly 6,000 employees from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As the situation unfolds, the White House has criticized the rulings, claiming that a single judge is overstepping by interfering with the executive branch’s authority. The administration is also moving forward with deeper cuts across the federal workforce, including significant layoffs in the Department of Education.