Judge orders Trump administration to reinstate thousands of fired federal workers

Federal workers rally in DC after second DOGE email

Several union members, including those from the country's largest defense labor union, cheered on federal workers Monday as they headed into the office.

WASHINGTON - A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of probationary workers who were let go in mass firings across multiple agencies.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup found the firings did not follow federal law and said that immediate offers of reinstatement needed to be sent out. 

READ MORE: Federal workers rally in DC against DOGE cuts

Which agencies are involved?

The agencies include:

• Veterans Affairs
• Agriculture
• Defense
• Energy
• The Interior
• Treasury

Lawsuit filed

The order from the San Francisco-based judge came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations. 

Massive workforce layoffs

The backstory:

In mid-February, the Trump administration escalated its broad efforts to downsize the federal workforce by ordering agencies to lay off nearly all probationary employees who have not yet secured civil service protection. 

Trump signed an executive order directing agency leaders to plan for "large-scale reductions in force." 

Federal workers rally in DC against DOGE cuts

Federal workers rallied outside the Department of Health and Human Services in D.C. Friday in protest of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts.

Elon Musk, who has been given significant flexibility by President Trump to reduce government spending with DOGE, also called for the elimination of entire agencies.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.