WASHINGTON, March 14 (Alliance News): A US federal judge has ordered six government agencies to reinstate thousands of workers recently dismissed under President Donald Trump’s administration, ruling that the mass firings were improperly enforced.
US District Judge William Alsup issued the ruling in San Francisco, marking a major setback for Trump’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce.
The decision affects probationary employees at the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Interior, and the Treasury, with agencies facing a deadline to submit revised redundancy plans.
Alsup determined that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) overstepped its authority by directing agencies to dismiss employees without proper legal procedures.
He described the terminations as unjust, stating, “It is a sad day when our government fires a good employee and falsely claims it was for performance reasons.”
The White House vowed to appeal, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt arguing that a single district judge should not have the power to obstruct the president’s executive authority.
Meanwhile, union groups hailed the ruling as a victory for federal workers, with the American Federation of Government Employees calling it a critical stand against an administration aiming to weaken public institutions.
Alsup’s ruling comes amid broader legal battles over the dismissals, with multiple lawsuits filed, including by 20 Democrat-led states and sacked workers challenging the administration’s actions.
The case could set a precedent for future government employment policies as Trump continues his push to restructure federal agencies.
