Washington — Over 24,000 employees from 18 federal agencies, who faced termination as part of President Trump’s attempts to reduce the federal workforce, are presently being reinstated as a result of a federal judge’s ruling last week.
The Trump administration provided a comprehensive account of the number of probationary staff, typically defined as those employed for less than a year, who were affected by the president’s extensive downsizing efforts in court documentation submitted on Monday. This was part of the administration’s adherence to a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge James Bredar last week.
Lawyers from the Justice Department submitted statements from human resources representatives across 18 different agencies that fell under Judge Bredar’s order, detailing the count of probationary employees who were dismissed last month and subsequently reinstated.
Judge Bredar, who serves on the federal district court in Maryland, halted the mass dismissals of probationary employees and mandated their return to their positions. He marks the second judge to mandate that the Trump administration reinstate terminated federal employees.
The Justice Department has pursued appeals against both rulings. Yet, on Monday, a three-judge panel for the U.S. Appeals for the 9th Circuit declined to suspend one of the orders, which originated from a U.S. district judge in California, while legal proceedings advance.
In the statements, human resources officials from various federal agencies expressed they were working to comply with Judge Bredar’s directive. Nevertheless, they all warned that reinstating terminated employees would likely lead to “significant confusion” and disruption for those individuals. Furthermore, they noted that an appellate court might overturn the district court’s ruling, which could result in affected employees experiencing several changes in their employment status within a few weeks.
Most of the reinstated employees were placed on administrative leave with full remuneration and benefits, according to the HR officials.
Below is how many employees were fired and subsequently reinstated across the 18 agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency: 419 probationary staff members were let go, and all received notifications that their terminations were reversed. The EPA’s director of the Office of Human Capital Operations indicated that “most” have returned on paid administrative leave. Department of Energy: 555 employees faced termination, and by 1 p.m. on March 17, 319 of those termination notices were rescinded. They were placed on retroactive administrative leave with the remainder processed by 1:35 p.m. that same day. Department of Commerce: 791 out of a total of 9,000 probationary and trial-period staff were dismissed. Of these, 27 were reinstated for operational purposes, while 764 received notification of their reinstatement. Department of Health and Human Services: A total of 3,248 probationary employees were released, all of whom were subsequently sent notifications of their reinstatement via email or letter. Department of Homeland Security: 313 probationary employees were terminated, and the agency is actively moving towards placing all of them on administrative leave, according to their declaration. One worker declined reinstatement, another is employed in a different component within the department, and a third is returning to service as part of the deferred resignation program, as noted by Homeland Security’s chief human capital officer. Department of Transportation: 775 probationary employees were let go. All have been informed that their terminations have been revoked, as per their declaration. Department of Education: 65 probationary staff were dismissed, and all have been restored and placed on paid administrative leave, according to the department’s chief human capital officer. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 312 probationary employees faced termination. Thirteen have since been fully reinstated, and initiation for the reinstatement of the remaining 299 has begun, according to HUD’s declaration. Interior Department: 1,712 staff members were terminated, and according to the department’s deputy assistant secretary for human capital, learning, and safety, 90% of the 1,710 who were dismissed have since been rehired. The department clarified that they are not rehiring two employees who qualify for exceptions under the judge’s temporary restraining order. Department of Labor: 170 probationary staff were removed, and all notices of termination have been rescinded, as stated by the Labor Department. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: 117 employees were dismissed, and all have been reinstated and placed on administrative leave, according to the bureau’s acting chief human capital officer. Small Business Administration: 304 workers were let go. Six of these individuals were rehired on Feb. 18, as noted in the agency’s declaration. Five probationary workers remain employed at the Small Business Administration, while one voluntarily resigned. Notices have been sent to 298 workers indicating their reinstatement. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: 156 probationary employees were dismissed, and all have been restored, according to the FDIC’s deputy to the acting chairman and chief operating officer. U.S. Agency for International Development: 270 probationary staff members were terminated. USAID communicated via email to all impacted workers, confirming their reinstatement and informing them they will be on administrative leave, as reported by the agency’s senior deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Human Capital and Talent Management. General Services Administration: 366 probationary employees were terminated, but have since been rehired, as indicated in the agency’s declaration. However, two declined their positions upon reinstatement. Treasury Department: 7,613 employees were dismissed. The department’s deputy assistant secretary for human resources provided a detailed breakdown of reinstatements for each of its components: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing issued email notifications of rehiring to 48 affected workers. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service sent email notices to all 169 impacted workers regarding their reinstatement. The U.S. Mint notified eight probationary staff of their reinstatement. The IRS confirmed, by Monday afternoon, that 6,387 of its 7,315 affected workers were sent email notifications of rehiring. As for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, it had yet to finalize the dismissals of 73 probationary workers, and therefore, they were placed on administrative leave status on Sunday, as stated in the department’s declaration. Department of Agriculture: 5,714 probationary employees were terminated, but all were reinstated by March 12 due to proceedings before the Merit Systems Protection Board, as reported by the acting principal deputy assistant secretary for administration. Department of Veterans Affairs: 1,683 probationary workers were dismissed, and all have been reinstated according to their declaration.
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