Federal judge blasts Trump’s mass layoffs as a “sham,” forcing agencies to reinstate thousands
A federal judge has delivered a scathing rebuke to the Trump administration, ordering the immediate reinstatement of thousands of government employees who were abruptly fired last month. Judge William Alsup condemned the move as a “sham” designed to bypass federal workforce reduction laws, accusing the administration of outright deception.
The ruling, issued from the bench on Thursday, affects six major agencies, including the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, and Treasury. However, Alsup hinted that more agencies could soon fall under the order, potentially reversing one of the most aggressive workforce cuts in recent U.S. history.
At the heart of the controversy is the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which allegedly directed agencies to terminate probationary employees en masse. The administration insisted these layoffs were performance-based, but Alsup saw right through it.
“This was a gimmick to evade federal law,” he said. “It is a sad day when our government fires good employees under false pretences.”
The Justice Department, however, is fighting back. Officials announced plans to appeal the decision, claiming the ruling undermines the president’s authority over executive branch hiring and firing.
During the heated hearing, Alsup grilled Justice Department attorneys on the administration’s rationale for the firings. He particularly took issue with the refusal to allow acting OPM Director Charles Ezell to testify.
“You’re afraid to do so because you know cross-examination will reveal the truth,” Alsup snapped at government lawyers. “I tend to doubt that you’re telling me the truth.”
Tensions escalated when the Justice Department withdrew Ezell’s written declaration—their only piece of evidence—just before he was supposed to take the stand.
“You’re not helping me get at the truth,” Alsup continued. “You’re giving me press releases—sham documents.”
Labour unions and legal experts argue that the administration deliberately used misleading justifications to skirt strict federal rules governing mass layoffs. Under the law, reductions in force (RIFs) require a detailed process, including employee protections and justifications. But by citing “performance issues” instead, the administration sidestepped those requirements.
“This was never about job performance,” one attorney for the plaintiffs said. “It was a mass purge.”
The ruling has sparked outrage within the Trump administration, which has made downsizing the federal workforce a key priority. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the ruling “absurd and unconstitutional.”
“A single judge is trying to seize hiring and firing power from the President,” she said in a fiery statement on X. “If he wants executive authority, he should run for office himself.”
Meanwhile, another federal judge in Maryland issued a similar ruling later that same day. That decision temporarily reinstated workers at 18 additional agencies, further complicating the administration’s efforts.
For the thousands of fired employees, the ruling is nothing short of a lifeline. One former IRS worker, who lost his job last month, described the moment the decision was announced.
“Everyone on the group chat is celebrating,” he said. “We finally have hope.”
But the fight isn’t over yet. With an appeal looming and the administration determined to press ahead with its workforce reductions, the legal battle is far from settled. What is clear, however, is that the Trump administration’s handling of these firings has now been exposed—and the courts are watching.
