Summary
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has ordered the USDA to reinstate nearly 6,000 fired probationary employees (new hires) for 45 days, citing likely unlawful terminations.
The Trump administration dismissed them starting February 13, claiming their employment wasn’t “in the public interest.”
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel argues the mass firings violated federal workforce laws.
This is the first major case reversing Trump’s federal downsizing efforts, potentially leading to reinstatements of similar terminations across agencies.
If nothing else, it’s a paycheck while you find something else. The job market right now is kinda tough.
The job market isn’t really geared to handle hundreds of thousands of people needing new work all at once. Even without any other resultant cuts, a huge amount of unemployed people is going to be incredibly bad for the economy, and for social stability as a whole.