Judge blocks Trump admin from mass dismissals of probationary federal employees

A federal judge in California has intervened to block the Trump administration from carrying out mass terminations of recently hired probationary federal workers. The judge ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) does not have the authority to fire employees, including those who are in their probationary period with less than a year of civil service.

The decision was made during a court hearing in response to a lawsuit filed by labor unions and other groups challenging OPM’s actions. The plaintiffs argue that the mass terminations violate the Administrative Procedure Act and congressional laws governing agency hiring and firing practices.

Last week, another federal judge allowed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to proceed with its mission of reducing wasteful government spending by declining to halt the firing of federal workers and conducting mass layoffs. This decision came after labor unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), sought to pause the mass firings and challenged the termination of probationary employees.

In a separate case, federal employees were offered the option to either return to work or resign from their positions while continuing to receive pay until September through a resignation program. The deadline for this decision was initially set for February 6 but was extended to February 12 and ultimately closed on that day.

The unions sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent the firing of probationary employees and the continuation of the resignation program. However, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper denied their request, stating that the court does not have jurisdiction over the claims. Cooper directed the unions to pursue their challenges through the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, which allows for administrative review by the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

This ruling marks a setback for federal employees who were facing termination under the Trump administration’s directives. The legal battles surrounding the mass firings and the resignation program highlight the complexities of federal workforce management and the protections afforded to employees under existing laws and regulations.

Greg Wehner, a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital, covered the developments in these cases. For more information and updates on this story, you can contact Greg Wehner at Greg.Wehner@Fox.com or follow him on Twitter @GregWehner.