A federal judge in San Francisco has issued a ruling that deems the mass firings of probationary federal employees as likely unlawful. The decision provides temporary relief to a coalition of labor unions and organizations that have taken legal action against the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce.
US District Judge William Alsup found that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacked the authority to order the termination of probationary employees in federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. Judge Alsup emphasized that OPM's jurisdiction is limited to its own employees and does not extend to hiring or firing decisions in other agencies.
