Search Articles
(CN) — A coalition of 20 Democratic attorneys general are suing the Trump administration over “unlawful” mass terminations of probationary employees in the federal government, a directive the coalition says was carried out without the required legal notice.
The lawsuit, filed late Thursday night in federal court in Maryland, names several federal agencies as defendants, including the Department of Defense and its secretary, Pete Hegseth, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services and its leader, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The attorneys general claim in the 55-page complaint that the Trump administration defied long-standing federal procedure when it fired employees “by the hundreds and, in many instances, thousands” without properly notifying the affected workers or states.
“Over the past month, the new administration has run roughshod over the RIF (reductions in force) requirements,” the states say. “Specifically, as part of an effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce, the Office of Personnel Management has unlawfully directed federal agencies to conduct mass terminations of probationary employees, suddenly and without any advance notice.”
There are an estimated 200,000 probationary employees — typically in their first or second year on the job — across federal agencies.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the 20 attorneys general in the coalition, called the mass layoffs “a slap in the face to those who have spent their careers serving our country.”
“Whether it’s providing health care to our veterans, keeping our communities safe, or ensuring our children get a quality education, federal employees provide essential services every day,” James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown called the firings “a blatant attack on civil service, throwing thousands of hardworking families into financial turmoil.”
“Instead of following the law and notifying states, his administration blindsided Maryland, forcing us to deal with the devastating economic fallout and social consequences,” he said in a statement.
At a Friday news conference, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said: “This sweeping mass firing is, simply, illegal.
The mass layoffs are part of a broader scheme from President Donald Trump to reduce the size of the federal government and limit its spending. He tapped billionaire Elon Musk to run the Department of Government Efficiency, an unofficial arm of the executive branch that is leading those efforts.
The controversial plan has already landed the Republican administration in court on dozens of occasions. Several federal judges have already ruled against Trump’s directives to fire certain federal employees or withhold approved federal funding, finding that the president is unlawfully trying to overstep Congress to change already approved legislation.
In this case, the states claim that the administration ignored congressionally approved notice procedure that requires federal agencies to provide 60 days’ notice when it plans to lay off 50 or more employees.
Their failure to announce the job cuts put stress on administrative services, the coalition claims.
“Because of the lack of notice, many plaintiff states have also faced increased administrative demands related to adjudicating unemployment claims; decreased tax revenues; and increased demands for social services,” the states said. “Some plaintiff states have also lost the benefit of services provided by federal employees embedded within state agencies, without any time to prepare.”
As a result, affected employees are “struggling to make ends meet” after being blindsided by the layoffs, which left them no time to “budget to prepare for the loss of income,” the states claim.
The states are seeking an injunction that bars the administration from enforcing any mass probationary firings that occurred after Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025.
The coalition includes attorneys general from Maryland, Minnesota, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
Follow @Uebey
Follow @uebey.bsky.socialSubscribe to our free newsletters
Our weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.