A federal judge in Maryland is considering ordering the reinstatement of thousands of probationary federal workers who were abruptly fired. The judge expressed concerns that the firings may have been unlawful due to lack of proper procedure, including advance notice and information on reemployment and career transition assistance. A coalition of states with Democratic attorneys general is calling for a temporary restraining order to restore the status quo before the firings, arguing that the government ignored proper protocol for mass terminations. The government’s lawyer argued that the firings were not a reduction in force but termination of probationary employees instead. The judge also questioned the government’s lack of knowledge on the number of workers who were fired. In a related ruling, a federal judge in California found that instructions to fire probationary workers were illegal, leading to their rescission. The Merit Systems Protection Board also found that the firing of over 5,000 probationary employees from the Department of Agriculture may have been unlawful. The administration has instructed agencies to prepare for large-scale reductions in force, with the Education Department planning to cut about half of its staff. The judge in Maryland is expected to issue a written ruling promptly on whether the firings were unlawful.
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