California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated legal action against several federal agencies, challenging what he describes as an illegal mass termination of probationary federal employees. The lawsuit, filed by 20 attorneys general, contends that the Trump Administration's Office of Personnel Management exceeded its authority with a directive to reduce the federal workforce by terminating probationary employees en masse.
"The Trump Administration’s sweeping mass firing of probationary federal employees is simply unlawful," stated Attorney General Bonta. He argued that these actions would lead to increased operational disruptions and financial burdens on taxpayers. Bonta emphasized the importance of these workers in providing essential services and criticized the administration for what he termed an "unlawful power grab."
Federal workers number over 5.1 million nationwide, with more than 200,000 currently on probationary status. In California alone, numerous federal employees work in vital roles across various agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Park Service.
The lawsuit argues that these terminations disrupt essential government services and have significant economic repercussions. It notes a sharp increase in unemployment benefit claims among former federal workers in California following these layoffs.
The complaint accuses the Trump Administration of failing to comply with Reduction in Force (RIF) procedures, which are designed to provide advance notice of mass layoffs and ensure certain protections for affected personnel. This failure has reportedly placed a burden on state resources as they attempt to manage the fallout from sudden job losses.
In response, the attorneys general are seeking declaratory relief along with temporary and permanent injunctions to halt further firings and reinstate those already terminated unlawfully.
Attorney General Bonta is joined by his counterparts from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island Vermont Wisconsin and Washington D.C., all supporting this legal challenge.