Attorney General Kathy Jennings, along with 20 other attorneys general, has initiated legal action against several federal agencies. The lawsuit seeks to halt what they describe as illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and aims to reinstate those who have already been terminated.
AG Jennings emphasized the importance of the federal workforce, stating, “The federal workforce is indispensable to Delawareans’ safety, health, and prosperity.” She further noted that the affected employees are not underperformers or political appointees but rather essential public servants. According to Jennings, these terminations could severely impact critical services and impose financial burdens on states like Delaware.
The lawsuit responds to recent mass firings by federal agencies which allegedly cause significant harm to state resources. These actions reportedly place additional strain on state systems tasked with supporting unemployed workers and managing unemployment claims. The lack of statutory notice for these layoffs is also said to negatively affect state finances and disrupt crucial state-federal partnerships.
The Trump administration's directive for widespread termination of federal employees has impacted thousands of probationary workers. These individuals are typically new hires or those recently promoted or transferred within offices who do not yet have full employment protections.
Federal agencies have cited unsatisfactory performance or conduct in termination letters; however, the lawsuit contends that these actions are part of a broader strategy by the administration to restructure and reduce the size of the federal government.
Jennings argues that proper procedures were not followed according to laws governing large-scale "Reductions in Force" (RIF), which require advance notice when laying off 50 or more employees. This notice period allows states time to prepare necessary support for affected workers. The failure to provide such notice has reportedly resulted in increased costs and challenges for Delaware as it deals with these abrupt job losses.
The lawsuit calls for an immediate court ruling to reinstate unlawfully terminated employees, prevent further similar dismissals, and identify those affected. States joining Delaware in this legal challenge include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.