Last week, two federal court rulings temporarily reinstated 25,000 fired probationary federal workers, offering them a brief reprieve. U.S. District Judge James Bednar’s ruling, which impacts 18 federal agencies, requires them to reinstate workers by Monday, though the decision is only in effect for two weeks. A second ruling by Judge William Alsup affects six federal agencies and demands that workers be allowed to do their jobs rather than be placed on administrative leave, which he deemed a violation of the order.
Despite the temporary reprieve, many of these workers, while reinstated and receiving pay, are currently on administrative leave, unable to perform their duties. With looming staff reductions across the federal government, the workers remain in a precarious position, with many expecting eventual termination through other means.
Ongoing Federal Reductions in Force (RIF)
The reemployment of probationary workers comes amid broader efforts to reduce federal staffing levels. According to the Office of Personnel Management, agencies are being instructed to disregard certain collective bargaining agreements in order to speed up the process. The reduction proposals submitted to the White House last week are just the beginning of what could be significant job cuts across multiple agencies:
- Department of Education: Nearly 1,300 workers have been laid off as part of a 50% staff reduction.
- Veterans Affairs: The agency plans to reduce its workforce by 15%, affecting over 60,000 employees.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The IRS is aiming to cut around 6,800 workers in addition to the probationary cuts now on hold.
The Bigger Picture
As of last month, an estimated 62,000 federal jobs were eliminated, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Some agencies, including USAID and the U.S. Agency for Global Media, have effectively shut down, leaving workers with little certainty about their future.
Though court rulings have temporarily halted certain cuts, the long-term effects of these reductions, combined with legal challenges, continue to unfold. The coming weeks will likely see more legal action and further developments on the status of federal workers.
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