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The push and pull over the Trump administration's swathing cuts to Federal administrations continues, with a judge in Maryland ordering the reinstatement of thousands of employees terminated in recent weeks, finding that the dismissals violated legal procedures.
US District Judge James K. Bredar issued a 14-day stay after 20 Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit on behalf of employees across multiple states. The ruling follows a separate court order in San Francisco, where another judge directed the Trump administration to reinstate workers at six federal agencies.
The Maryland ruling applies nationwide, requiring 18 federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and Homeland Security, to reinstate probationary employees dismissed through what Bredar described as “illegal RIFs” (reductions in force). The court excluded the Defense Department, the Office of Personnel Management, and the National Archives and Records Administration due to insufficient evidence of wrongful terminations.
Legal disputes over Federal job losses
The lawsuit claims the Trump administration bypassed federal law by terminating employees without proper evaluation or the required 60-day notice period. State governments argued this left them unable to prepare support services for newly jobless individuals, increasing pressure on unemployment systems and reducing tax revenue.
“Lacking the notice to which they were entitled, the states weren't ready for the impact of so many unemployed people,” Bredar wrote in his decision.
Under federal law, state rapid response teams must provide support to displaced workers. Without sufficient warning, officials said they struggled to locate affected employees, forcing them to spend additional resources managing the aftermath.
In its defense, the Trump administration argued that states lacked jurisdiction to challenge federal employment matters and claimed the impact on states was indirect. Bredar rejected that argument, however, stating that state governments bear a clear burden when mass terminations disrupt local economies.
“If the Government wishes to continue pursuing its RIF agenda, the Government must start from square one, acting in compliance with federal law,” Bredar concluded.
Ongoing legal challenges
The Maryland ruling is one of several ongoing Trump lawsuits challenging recent federal job losses. Earlier this week, the Merit Systems Protection Board ordered the US Department of Agriculture to reinstate nearly 6,000 probationary employees.
The White House criticized the court rulings, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the San Francisco judge's decision an “unconstitutional” overreach into executive powers.
“The President has the authority to exercise the power of the entire executive branch. Singular district court judges cannot abuse the power of the entire judiciary to thwart the President’s agenda,” Leavitt said.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is proceeding with further workforce reductions, including a recent Department of Education decision to cut nearly half its staff.
