A federal judge has recently issued a temporary order requiring the Trump administration to reinstate approximately 25,000 federal employees. This ruling is the latest development in a contentious legal dispute surrounding the mass firings initiated by President Donald Trump during his administration. The Justice Department's filings in this case have provided significant insights into the extent of these terminations.
New documents submitted by the Justice Department reveal the aggressive measures taken by the White House and its Department of Government Employment (DOGE) office to reduce the federal workforce. In declarations from 18 different departments and agencies, officials disclosed that around 25,000 federal workers had been terminated across various sectors of government. These disclosures offer the most comprehensive view yet of the mass reductions that characterized President Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Agency officials were mandated to submit their declarations by Monday night, as part of a legal challenge brought forth by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. They allege that the mass firings violated legal protocols. US District Court Judge James K. Bredar had previously granted the attorneys general's request for a temporary restraining order to halt the Trump administration from executing these terminations fully.
According to the filings, many of the terminated employees were placed on administrative leave following their reinstatement. However, several agencies have faced difficulties in notifying these workers about their return to work. For instance, an IRS official reported that the agency had to resort to sending certified mail to reach some of the reinstated employees. Agency officials expressed concerns that complying with Judge Bredar's order could lead to significant disruptions, especially if the temporary block is lifted and the employees are terminated once again.
Even if employees successfully return to their positions, agency officials indicated that many of them would need to undergo the onboarding process again. This includes obtaining security badges, completing required training, and receiving necessary equipment. Some agencies have also reported a lack of available office space for the reinstated workers.
The White House's efforts to target probationary employees, those with less than two years of experience, began as early as Inauguration Day. These employees tend to be easier to terminate due to the absence of certain civil service protections. Although the DOGE office did not directly initiate the Office of Personnel Management memo that prompted agencies to review their probationary staff, the aftermath has been considerable.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, regarded as the de facto leader of the DOGE office, has publicly advocated for mass firings and has claimed credit for efforts to streamline government operations, particularly within the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Several federal agencies have been significantly impacted by the mass firings, as detailed in the filings:
Treasury Department: Terminated 7,605 out of approximately 16,663 probationary employees, with the IRS accounting for 7,315 of those terminations. Agriculture Department: Let go of around 5,714 employees but has since reinstated all of them as part of a phased return. Health and Human Services Department: Terminated 3,248 out of roughly 8,466 probationary and trial period employees. Veterans Affairs Department: Initially terminated 1,900 employees, later narrowing the count to 1,683 after reviews. Department of Interior: Let go of 1,712 employees, with 90% of terminations subsequently canceled. Commerce Department: Terminated 791 probationary employees, with 27 reinstated shortly after. Transportation Department: Reported 788 terminations, with 775 affected by the court order. Energy Department: Fired 555 employees but has since canceled the terminations. Environmental Protection Agency: Terminated roughly 419 employees, all of whom have been reinstated. General Services Administration: Fired about 366 employees, with most reinstated by Monday morning. Homeland Security: Terminated at least 313 employees, with ongoing reinstatement efforts. Housing and Urban Development: Let go of 312 employees, with plans for reinstatement underway. Small Business Administration: Terminated 304 employees, with 127 already reinstated. USAID: Fired 270 out of 295 probationary employees, now facing operational shutdowns. Labor Department: Terminated around 170 employees, with all affected workers either returning or leaving voluntarily. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: Let go of 156 employees, with the majority reinstated. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Terminated 117 employees, all of whom have been reinstated. Education Department: Fired 65 employees, with reinstatements processed.The ongoing legal battle and the resulting turmoil surrounding these mass firings underscore the complexities involved in federal employment practices under the current administration. As the situation develops, the implications for federal employees and government operations remain significant.
