A group of probationary US government employees has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration, challenging the legality of mass firings that have targeted federal workers. The employees, from various departments including Veterans Affairs, Treasury, Commerce, Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration, argue that their terminations violated due process rights and federal regulations.
The lawsuit claims that their firings, part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape the federal workforce, likely breached guidelines outlined by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the US Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). These agencies had concluded that similar dismissals likely constituted prohibited personnel practices. However, the plaintiffs’ claims did not meet the criteria to directly appeal to the MSPB, leading them to pursue the case in court.
The plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement to their former positions, aiming to reverse the firings. This lawsuit highlights ongoing legal battles over the administration’s approach to federal employment, particularly for probationary workers, an area where federal judges have yet to render definitive rulings.
The case adds to the broader controversy surrounding Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce, a move that has faced legal and political pushback since his presidency began.
