Attorney General Rayfield has filed a lawsuit along with 20 other attorneys general against several federal agencies. The suit addresses what they claim are illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees, which they argue will impose financial burdens on states due to increased unemployment assistance claims and disruptions in state-federal partnerships.
Rayfield highlighted the personal impact on workers: “We’ve heard from some of these probationary employees who’ve been fired, and their stories are awful,” he stated. He recounted the case of an IRS employee in Portland who was terminated before undergoing critical cancer surgery, emphasizing the undue stress caused by these actions.
The Trump administration initiated these terminations as part of its effort to reduce government size. Thousands of probationary employees, those newly hired or recently promoted, were affected. Although termed as dismissals for poor performance or conduct, the lawsuit contends that this move was part of a larger restructuring effort that should comply with federal "Reductions in Force" (RIF) regulations. These regulations ensure protections such as job retention preference for military veterans.
According to RIF guidelines, agencies must provide at least 60 days’ notice to state governments when laying off 50 or more employees. This notice allows states to prepare support services for affected workers. The lawsuit alleges that no such advance notice was given to Oregon, leading to unexpected costs and logistical challenges for the state.
Oregon's legal action seeks court rulings declaring the firings illegal, reinstating unlawfully dismissed employees, halting further similar actions, and identifying all affected personnel.
Attorneys general from Maryland, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York Rhode Island Vermont and Wisconsin have joined Attorney General Rayfield in this coalition.