California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a preliminary injunction that blocks the Trump Administration's move to terminate federal probationary employees residing or working in California. The decision aims to protect thousands of federal employees, including veterans, who were facing mass layoffs.
Attorney General Bonta stated: “The Trump Administration’s callous and reckless mass firings of federal employees have harmed thousands of employees and families, including many veterans in our state who have dutifully served their country in uniform. Today’s decision is an important victory for the rule of law, which blocks the administration from terminating federal employees without lawfully required notice. California will continue to fight to protect our federal workforce, and the services Californians rely on.”
The injunction follows a lawsuit filed by a 20-member coalition of attorneys general, challenging the legality of the mass terminations. Previously, the U.S. District Court for Maryland had issued a temporary restraining order reinstating employees affected by these actions. The recent order extends the injunction to include federal employees from agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Office of Personnel Management.
Federal employees in California play significant roles across agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the National Park Service. The layoffs, deemed unlawful, disrupted essential government services and impacted the state economy. California's Employment Development Department had to allocate substantial resources to support the displaced workers, resulting in a 149% increase in unemployment benefit claims by federal workers in February 2025.
Attorney General Bonta's efforts are supported by attorneys general from multiple states, including New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts, as well as the District of Columbia.
A copy of the court's order is available for public access.