US Judge Orders Trump Administration to Rehire Fired Workers

A federal judge in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge William Alsup, has ordered the Trump administration to rehire thousands of workers who were let go in mass firings across multiple agencies.

The judge ruled that the terminations were directed by the Office of Personnel Management and its acting director, Charles Ezell, who lacked the authority to do so.

The administration swiftly filed an appeal of the injunction with the Ninth Circuit Court. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the ruling, stating, “The Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order.”

Judge Alsup’s order mandates the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior, and the Treasury to offer job reinstatement to employees terminated on or about Feb. 13 and 14. The departments must also report back within seven days with a list of probationary employees and an explanation of how the agencies complied with the order.

Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, one of the plaintiffs, condemned the mass firings, saying, “These mass-firings of federal workers were not just an attack on government agencies and their ability to function, they were also a direct assault on public lands, wildlife, and the rule of law.”

Judge Alsup expressed frustration with the government’s attempt to sidestep laws and regulations governing a reduction in its workforce. He was particularly appalled that employees were fired for poor performance despite receiving positive evaluations just months earlier.

“It is sad, a sad day, when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that’s a lie,” Alsup said. “That should not have been done in our country.”

The case is one of multiple lawsuits challenging the mass firings. In a recent hearing, another judge in Maryland also appeared skeptical of the Trump administration.

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