Court Rules Against OPM for Exceeding Authority in Mass Firing of Federal Workers
On Thursday, February 29, 2025, Judge William Alsup’s court rules against OPM saying that it exceeded its legal authority when it ordered federal agencies to dismiss thousands of probationary employees who were not deemed “mission-critical.” The directive, issued on February 14, resulted in an estimated 16,000 federal workers losing their jobs across multiple agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, Internal Revenue Service, and National Park Service.
Judge Alsup’s decision directly rebukes the Trump administration’s attempt to reshape the executive branch by systematically reducing the federal workforce. In his scathing ruling, Alsup made clear:
The Office of Personnel Management does not have any authority whatsoever under any statute in the history of the universe to hire and fire employees at another agency.
While the judge did not order reinstatement for the terminated employees, his ruling forces OPM to rescind its directive and notifies agencies that the mass firing order was unlawful.
Court Rules Against OPM: A Victory for Federal Employees
AFGE, the largest federal employee union, praised the ruling as a crucial step in fighting back against politically motivated workforce reductions.
“This ruling by Judge Alsup is an important initial victory for patriotic Americans across this country who were illegally fired from their jobs by an agency that had no authority to do so,” said Everett Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
However, despite the ruling, the fate of the terminated employees remains uncertain. Without a court order for reinstatement, affected workers may need further legal action or congressional intervention to reclaim their positions.
This case underscores the importance of strong labor protections and union advocacy in defending federal employees against unlawful political interference. AFGE and other labor organizations are expected to continue fighting for reinstatement and compensation for the affected workers.
