Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside a coalition of 20 attorneys general, is pursuing legal action against federal agencies to halt mass layoffs of probationary federal employees and reinstate those who have already been terminated. The request for a temporary restraining order was filed following a lawsuit against the agencies concerning these dismissals.
The motion emphasizes the urgency due to the adverse effects on Illinois and other states involved. The abrupt terminations have increased the demand for state resources, such as unemployment benefits and assistance programs. In Illinois alone, around 446 former federal employees have sought unemployment benefits since the recent presidential inauguration—a number nearing last year's total claims by former federal employees.
"Many of these illegal firings have come without cause or warning, leaving tens of thousands of federal workers and their families struggling to pay rent, buy groceries and cover other vital household costs," stated Raoul. He added that state governments were unprepared for the surge in demand for unemployment insurance and social services like Medicaid.
The mass terminations are part of an initiative by the Trump administration aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. This has involved instructing various agencies to dismiss thousands of probationary employees who are typically new hires or recently promoted individuals undergoing a probation period.
Federal agencies cited unsatisfactory performance or conduct as reasons in termination letters; however, Raoul and his colleagues argue these actions align with restructuring efforts requiring adherence to specific federal laws governing large-scale Reductions in Force (RIFs). These regulations are crucial for protecting personnel such as military veterans by giving them job retention preference.
In instances where RIFs lead to layoffs of 50 or more employees, agencies must provide at least 60 days' notice to state governments. This enables states to offer essential support and resources to affected workers. The lawsuit highlights that no advance notice was given to Illinois, imposing significant strain on state resources as they manage these sudden layoffs.
Raoul's motion seeks immediate court intervention to identify affected employees, reinstate those unlawfully terminated, and prevent further similar dismissals. Joining Raoul in this legal pursuit are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.