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Federal Board Orders USDA to Reinstate Fired Workers
Temporary Reinstatement of Thousands of Employees
A U.S. federal judge has ordered the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to temporarily reinstate thousands of probationary employees who were recently terminated as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) requested this reinstatement, arguing that the mass firings violated federal personnel laws by failing to assess individual employee performance. The order grants a 45-day reinstatement while further investigations take place.
Broader Resistance to Workforce Cuts
This legal challenge is part of a wider pushback against recent federal workforce reductions initiated by the Trump administration. Agencies were directed to identify potential layoffs impacting hundreds of thousands of government workers, sparking concerns over privatization and essential service reductions.
Legal Challenges to Oversight Removals
In addition to blocking mass firings, federal judges have also prevented President Trump from removing key oversight officials, including Cathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger. These rulings emphasize the importance of independent oversight in federal employment matters.
“Federal Board Orders USDA to Reinstate Fired Workers”