Federal Judge Orders Reinstatement of Wrongfully Terminated Federal Employees, Exposing Unlawful OPM Directive

A federal judge in California has mandated that six federal agencies offer reinstatement to probationary employees who were terminated in February. The order, issued by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, addresses the actions taken by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which directed department and agency heads to dismiss these employees. The judge’s decision highlights the unlawful nature of the terminations, which were initially justified by the OPM as performance-related.

The ruling specifically affects the departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, Interior, and Treasury. Judge Alsup’s order comes after a review of the circumstances surrounding the dismissals, which included a conference call held by the OPM on February 13. During this call, the OPM instructed the agencies to terminate probationary employees, a directive that was also communicated through a written memo.

Judge Alsup expressed concern over the rationale provided for the terminations, suggesting that the performance-based justification was not truthful. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “It is a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that’s a lie.” His remarks underscore the perceived injustice faced by the affected employees.

The decision to reinstate the employees marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of federal employment practices. The ruling not only calls into question the legality of the OPM’s directive but also highlights the broader implications for federal workforce management. The agencies involved are now tasked with offering reinstatement to those who were unjustly terminated, as per the court’s order.