A California federal judge temporarily halted the Donald Trump administration’s plan to carry out mass firings of thousands of recently hired federal employees, marking a setback in the administration’s push to downsize the government workforce.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco ruled on Thursday that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) lacked the authority to instruct federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to dismiss workers — even probationary employees with less than a year of service.
The job cuts are part of an unprecedented effort led by Republican President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, to shrink the federal bureaucracy and slash $1 trillion from the $6.7 trillion national budget.
The initiative has sparked fierce opposition from Democrats, unions, and federal workers, who argue the firings are unlawful and could jeopardize essential government operations.
Despite backlash, Trump has strongly supported Musk’s cost-cutting vision. However, budget analysts believe the ambitious savings target would require cutting government programs and benefits, not just jobs.
On Thursday, hundreds of probationary employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which conducts climate research, were notified of their dismissal.
At the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Transformation and Strategy Office — a team of 60 employees working on modernization projects — was warned it could be eliminated entirely. David Padrino, the office’s chief, told staff he planned to resign, as the agency braces for drastic headcount reductions in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, OPM has instructed at least two dozen remote workers to relocate to Washington, DC, by March 7 or risk losing their jobs.
Legal Intervention
Judge Alsup’s ruling ordered OPM to withdraw its January 20 memo and February 14 email instructing agencies to identify and fire non-essential probationary employees. However, he noted the order does not extend to the Department of Defense or other agencies, as they were not named in the lawsuit filed by unions and nonprofit organizations.
The case highlights mounting legal battles as the administration pushes ahead with sweeping federal workforce cuts, raising concerns about the widespread impact on government services.
