In a sharply worded decision issued late Friday, a federal district judge ruled that the Trump administration broke the law by firing federal workers employed in vital roles protecting public safety and supporting the U.S. economy.

Judge William H. Alsup of the Northern District of California in AFGE, AFL-CIO, et al. v. OPM found that the Trump administration’s mass terminations of probationary federal employees were conducted indiscriminately with no regard for employees’ job performance or public safety. Judge Alsup’s decision condemns the administration for presenting “sham” evidence and “fabricated context.” He also cites agency officials who warned that employees being fired for no good reason were “critical to public safety.” In fact, it is widely reported that many fired employees received the highest performance ratings possible.

The impact of the firings was wide-ranging, affecting key agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, which ensures air travel safety; the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides care and services to U.S. veterans; and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The plaintiffs in this case include the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the Main Street Alliance; the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks; the Common Defense Civic Engagement; the Western Watersheds Project; AFGE Local 1216; AFGE Local 2110; VoteVets; and United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP); American Public Health Association; American Geophysical Union (AGU); the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO; Climate Resilient Communities; and Point Blue Conservation Science. The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm of Altshuler Berzon LLP and the Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF). The state of Washington is represented by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown.

Following are statements from some of the above:“This is yet another significant victory in our continued fight against the Trump administration’s attacks on our jobs and livelihoods, providing relief to AFSCME members who have been targeted and to our communities that rely on strong, dependable public services,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders.

“We applaud the judge’s decision and echo his striking rebuke against the clear illegality of OPM’s actions,” said Janice Lachance, executive director and CEO of AGU. “This outcome shows that the destruction of the scientific workforce that is so vital to our health, safety, and national security is not inevitable. We are grateful to our plaintiffs’ coalition that stood up together and to AGU’s members and scientific community that supported this fight.”  

“National parks being pushed to the brink. Budget cuts and staff reductions have set our national parks on an unsustainable path,” said Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. “Parks need staff to run, and the National Park Service has lost 24% of its permanent workforce since the start of the Trump administration. These cuts are forcing shortened operating hours, delayed maintenance, and even the closure of visitor centers. Hopefully, this ruling will be the start of reversing this dangerous trend.”

“This ruling is a clear repudiation of the administration’s dishonesty and illegal random firings of federal employees,” said Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project. “Our public lands and wildlife deserve better and more responsible management, but that’s never going to happen under this unlawful DOGE campaign to turn federal agencies into toxic work environments.”

###

Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state, and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.