Fired Workers at 18 Agencies Reinstated in Court Blow to Trump

A US judge in Maryland directed 18 agencies to temporarily rehire thousands of terminated employees, dealing another judicial defeat to Trump administration efforts to shrink the federal sector.

The government gave no advance notice before firing newer workers, known as probationary employees, and conducted no individual assessments to justify their discharge based on performance, Judge James Bredar of the US District Court for the District of Maryland said Thursday in granting a temporary restraining order.

Bredar, an Obama appointee, found the terminations were unlawful workforce reductions that negatively impacted 19 states and the District of Columbia, which sued to challenge the firings.

The ruling will apply for 14 days to workers at agencies including the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Energy departments; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; and the US Agency for International Development.

It comes after a separate federal judge in California ordered six federal agencies to rehire probationary employees they fired since Feb. 13. Both decisions add to mounting setbacks for President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who have attempted to cull the federal workforce in the name of efficiency.

Outside the courts, an administrative panel known as the Merit Systems Protection Board has also moved to reinstate fired workers at the US Department of Agriculture and other agencies.

Four law firms are separately urging the MSPB to reinstate workers fired by 19 agencies, including the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services.

Virginia Williamson of the Maryland Attorney General’s office argued for the plaintiffs. The US Attorney for the District of Maryland argued for the defendants.

The case is Maryland v. USDA, D. Md., No. 1:25-cv-00748-JKB, TRO granted 3/13/25.