US Judge Orders Reinstatement of Thousands of Federal Workers Fired Under Trump Administration

A California federal judge has ordered six U.S. government agencies to reinstate thousands of fired probationary employees, calling the mass terminations unlawful.

Judge William Alsup, ruling in San Francisco, said the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) exceeded its authority by mandating agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Treasury Department to carry out mass layoffs.

The ruling comes amid Trump and top adviser Elon Musk’s push to shrink the federal workforce, which has already resulted in 25,000 job terminations and 75,000 buyouts across various agencies.

The lawsuit was filed by federal unions, nonprofit organizations, and the state of Washington, arguing the firings were politically motivated. Everett Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees, called the decision a “critical victory” against efforts to undermine federal agencies.

While Alsup’s decision currently applies to six agencies, a broader ruling could soon extend reinstatement orders to 16 other agencies affected by the layoffs. The Trump administration has yet to release an official response.