The Supreme Court issued a stay, halting a lower court's order to reinstate approximately 16,000 federal employees who were dismissed during the Trump administration. This decision keeps these employees on paid administrative leave.
A federal judge in California ruled that the firings violated federal law, citing improper directives from the Office of Personnel Management. The ruling impacted six federal agencies: Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. A similar lawsuit in Maryland resulted in a similar order, affecting additional agencies, but with a more limited geographical scope.
The lawsuits contended that at least 24,000 probationary employees were terminated, alleging the administration circumvented laws and regulations. The government argued that the agencies themselves directed the firings and stood by their decisions. The judge expressed concern over employees being fired despite recent positive evaluations.
Justices Sotomayor and Brown Jackson dissented, preferring to uphold the lower court's order.
The Justice Department is separately appealing the Maryland court order.