White House Blasts Judge’s Order To Rehire Federal Workers

Judge with gavel on wooden desk courtroom setting

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to rehire thousands of fired federal workers, setting up a major constitutional battle over executive authority that the White House has vowed to fight.

Key Takeaways

  • U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that thousands of federal employees who were terminated must be reinstated, calling the firings unlawful.
  • The White House condemned the ruling as “absurd and unconstitutional,” arguing that a single judge cannot usurp executive branch hiring authority.
  • The ruling affects employees from six federal departments including Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Treasury who were fired around February 13.
  • Judge Alsup found that the firings violated federal “Reduction in Force” procedures and accused the government of using performance-based terminations as a “sham.”
  • Labor unions have praised the decision as a victory for federal workers’ rights, while the administration plans to appeal.

Judge Orders Mass Reinstatement of Federal Workers

U.S. District Judge William Alsup, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, has issued a ruling that forces the Trump administration to rehire thousands of federal employees who were fired in February. The judge’s order specifically targets probationary federal workers from multiple departments, including Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, Interior, Agriculture, and Treasury. The decision represents a significant challenge to President Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, one of his key campaign promises and early administration priorities.

According to court documents, Judge Alsup determined that the terminations violated federal “Reduction in Force” procedures that establish proper protocols for downsizing the government workforce. He specifically criticized the administration for characterizing the dismissals as performance-based when evidence suggested otherwise. Many of the affected employees had reportedly received positive feedback before their sudden termination, raising questions about the true motivation behind the job cuts.

White House Condemns “Unconstitutional” Ruling

The White House has responded forcefully to the judge’s order, framing it as judicial overreach that infringes on presidential authority. The administration maintains that the firings were a legitimate exercise of executive power aimed at increasing government efficiency and reducing bureaucratic bloat. The Justice Department argued in court that the terminations aligned with the President’s broader agenda to streamline federal operations and eliminate unnecessary positions.

“A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt further emphasized the administration’s intent to challenge the ruling, stating, “The Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order.” The case raises significant constitutional questions about the separation of powers and the extent to which the judiciary can restrict executive branch employment decisions. Legal experts suggest this could potentially lead to a Supreme Court battle over presidential authority in managing the federal workforce.

Unions Celebrate Victory for Federal Workers

Labor unions that brought the lawsuit, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Government Employees, have hailed the court’s decision as a major victory. The ruling particularly impacts veterans, who make up approximately 30% of federal workers and were significantly affected by the firings. Union leaders argue that the mass terminations were carried out improperly and without adhering to established legal protections for government employees.

“Public service workers are the backbone of our communities in every way. Today, we are proud to celebrate the court’s decision which orders that fired federal employees must be reinstated and reinforces they cannot be fired without reason,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders.

Judge Alsup’s ruling was particularly harsh regarding the government’s conduct during the legal proceedings. He accused officials of obstructing the court’s ability to uncover the truth and criticized the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for withdrawing a declaration by Acting Director Charles Ezell. The judge ordered the deposition of OPM senior adviser Noah Peters and characterized the government’s use of performance-based terminations as a “gimmick” to circumvent legal requirements for reducing the federal workforce.

Sources:

  1. White House slams judge for ordering Trump admin to rehire thousands of federal workers: ‘Absurd and unconstitutional’
  2. Judge orders thousands of federal workers reinstated; slams ‘sham’ government declaration – ABC News
  3. Thousands of fired federal workers must be offered reinstatement, a judge rules

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