Attorney General Neronha and a coalition of 20 attorneys general have successfully obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) from a federal judge in the United States District Court for Maryland. The order mandates 18 federal agencies to halt the mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and reinstate those who were dismissed by March 17, 2025.
"President Trump blindsided Rhode Island when he fired thousands of federal probationary employees without giving us the 60-day notice required by law," said Attorney General Neronha. "He jeopardized these employees' financial security, threatened Rhode Island’s economy, and risked overwhelming our State’s ability to help those who were out of work."
The ruling obliges the Trump Administration to cease what are described as unlawful layoffs and restore jobs to affected federal employees in Rhode Island. According to Neronha, these actions show "a disregard for both the law and the essential role of the civil service in maintaining government stability."
The TRO was issued seven days after Neronha joined other attorneys general on March 6, 2025, in filing a lawsuit against several federal agencies. The lawsuit claimed that irreparable harm had been done to Rhode Island and other plaintiff states, seeking immediate relief.
Neronha is supported by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.