In a striking decision, a U.S. District Judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s central human resources office acted illegally by directing the mass termination of thousands of probationary federal workers, as the Associated Press reports.

This ruling addresses the wrongful firing of over 25,000 workers as part of a broader government downsizing effort, requiring agencies to correct records and notify affected employees, though reinstatement is no longer feasible due to the time that has since elapsed.

The controversy began shortly after President Donald Trump took office in January, when the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) spearheaded efforts to reduce the federal workforce. More than 25,000 probationary employees, often younger workers starting their careers or older employees in new roles, were let go across various agencies. These terminations were part of a broader initiative to shrink government staffing levels.

Judge rules against Trump

On Friday, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco delivered a significant ruling on the matter. He determined that OPM had overstepped its authority in orchestrating these firings, a power that Congress reserves for individual federal agencies to manage their own hiring and firing decisions.

Judge Alsup stated in his ruling that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management “unlawfully exceeded its own powers and usurped and exercised powers reserved by Congress to each individual” federal agency. He emphasized that OPM’s actions went beyond its legal mandate.

The government argued that OPM merely provided advice to agencies rather than issuing direct orders. However, Judge Alsup found this defense lacking, stating, “The government disagrees but does not persuade.”

Mass terminations deemed wrongful

Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, welcomed the judge’s decision. He remarked, “Judge Alsup’s decision makes clear that thousands of probationary workers were wrongfully fired, exposes the sham record the government relied upon, and requires the government to tell the wrongly terminated employees that OPM’s reasoning for firing them was false.”

The scale of the terminations was vast, affecting a diverse group of federal workers. Legal declarations from departments involved in the lawsuit confirmed the significant number of affected employees, highlighting the impact of the policy.

Earlier this year, in March, Judge Alsup had initially ordered the reinstatement of these probationary workers, finding that OPM’s actions were likely improper. However, the U.S. Supreme Court set aside that decision in April on a technicality, without addressing the central issue of legality.

Time contraints prevent reinstatement

In his most recent ruling on Friday, Judge Alsup revisited the possibility of reinstatement but concluded that too much time had passed.

He noted that many of the terminated employees have since moved on to other employment opportunities.

Judge Alsup wrote, “The terminated probationary employees have moved on with their lives and found new jobs. Many would no longer be willing or able to return to their posts.”

He further explained, “The agencies in question have also transformed in the intervening months by new executive priorities and sweeping reorganization. Many probationers would have no post to return to.”

Corrective actions ordered

While reinstatement was ruled out, Judge Alsup mandated specific corrective measures for most agencies named in the lawsuit.

These agencies must update personnel records and send personalized letters to the affected workers, clarifying that their terminations were not due to poor performance.

However, certain agencies, including the State Department and NASA, are exempt from this requirement. The reasoning behind these exemptions was not detailed in the ruling.

As of Monday, the Office of Personnel Management had not responded to requests for comment on the ruling.

The decision marks a significant acknowledgment of the improper actions taken during the Trump administration, even if full restitution for the affected workers remains out of reach.