FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2025
September 15, 2025
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
Judge Rules Mass Termination of Probationary Federal Workers Illegal
AFGE calls ruling a ‘significant victory’ for employees and all Americans
WASHINGTON – A federal judge on Friday ruled that the Office of Personnel Management violated the law by ordering the mass firing of about 25,000 federal employees at six agencies who were on their probationary period.
Ruling in a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and other allies, Judge William Alsup from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said OPM exceeded its authority by instructing agencies to fire employees based on fabricated performance issues.
AFGE and allies filed the lawsuit in February following OPM’s directive ordering the mass termination of probationary employees at six agencies: the Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Interior, Energy, Defense, and Treasury departments.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley issued the following statement in response to the ruling:
“This is another significant victory for federal employees and for all Americans. Judge Alsup’s decision makes clear that thousands of probationary workers were wrongfully fired, exposes the sham record the government relied upon, and requires the government to tell the wrongly terminated employees that OPM’s reasoning for firing them was false. AFGE, AFSCME and all our partners in this case are proud to lead this fight to preserve our non-partisan civil service and to hold this administration accountable for its unprecedented targeting of American workers.”
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