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BumRushDaShow

(165,723 posts)
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 02:47 PM Mar 2025

Nearly 6,000 USDA workers fired by Trump ordered back to work for now

Source: NPR

Updated March 5, 2025 1:22 PM ET


An independent federal board has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to temporarily reinstate close to 6,000 employees fired since Feb. 13, finding reasonable grounds to believe the agency acted illegally in terminating them. The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a stay, ordering USDA to return the fired workers to their jobs for 45 days while an investigation continues. The MSPB acts as an internal court to consider federal employees' complaints against the government.

The order, from board member Cathy Harris, covers probationary employees who received identical termination letters informing them that, based on their performance, they had not demonstrated that their further employment "would be in the public interest."

Since the middle of February, the Trump administration has fired tens of thousands of probationary employees across the federal government, typically those in their first or second year on the job.

The order comes in response to a request from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which is investigating the firings of probationary employees. It follows a similar decision issued last week that temporarily reinstated six probationary workers fired from six different agencies. Those employees are now back on the job at least through April 10, according to their lawyer, Michelle Bercovici.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/03/05/nx-s1-5318687/usda-fired-federal-employees-probationary-osc-mspb



Link to ORDER (PDF) is here
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Nearly 6,000 USDA workers fired by Trump ordered back to work for now (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Mar 2025 OP
GAMES PEOPLE PLAY!!!! elleng Mar 2025 #1
They're also playing the game with with office-lease terminations. enough Mar 2025 #7
HORRENDOUS! CHAOS fit to torture the populace! elleng Mar 2025 #8
Just a fucking brilliant way BOSSHOG Mar 2025 #2
He thinks it's TV! Hope22 Mar 2025 #3
DOGE will end up costing more than it saves. progressoid Mar 2025 #4
MUCH more! elleng Mar 2025 #9
And what happy workers they will be! Nm Grins Mar 2025 #5
Merit Systems Protection Board Micheal4119 Mar 2025 #6
Sure should do so! elleng Mar 2025 #10
Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Mar 2025 #22
This thread is demonstrating the insanity of the chaos tmp/msk/repugs are wreaking upon We the People AND elleng Mar 2025 #11
My thoughts..... FarPoint Mar 2025 #12
Kind of a side note, but I wonder if they have been locked out rurallib Mar 2025 #13
Wondering if their health insurance and pension plans have been closed Attilatheblond Mar 2025 #14
f'elon and felon should be forced to pay back pay out of their own pocket moonshinegnomie Mar 2025 #15
Move fast and break things IronLionZion Mar 2025 #16
Such complete disrespect to people as human beings and moniss Mar 2025 #17
And then some appellate judge will fire them all again in a few days. travelingthrulife Mar 2025 #18
Trump will now just unilaterally fire all the heads of the MSPB and install himself as Supreme Commander AZJonnie Mar 2025 #19
Hopefully back pay is included Old Crank Mar 2025 #20
"Ordered"? n/t Harker Mar 2025 #21

elleng

(141,926 posts)
8. HORRENDOUS! CHAOS fit to torture the populace!
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 03:17 PM
Mar 2025

How LONG will it take us all, to say NO and to heal!?

BOSSHOG

(44,738 posts)
2. Just a fucking brilliant way
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 02:51 PM
Mar 2025

To treat people. Fire for no reason then say oh comeback to work because who the fuck knows. How many bankruptcies? Employees are an asset to be treated fairly. Trump and musk and the entire Republican Party know nothing of fairness and kindness.

Micheal4119

(1 post)
6. Merit Systems Protection Board
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 03:12 PM
Mar 2025

This is a significant development! The **Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)** stepping in to reinstate nearly 6,000 USDA workers suggests serious concerns about the legality of these mass firings. It’s good to see oversight in action, ensuring due process for federal employees. Hopefully, the ongoing investigation brings more clarity to the situation.

elleng

(141,926 posts)
11. This thread is demonstrating the insanity of the chaos tmp/msk/repugs are wreaking upon We the People AND
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 03:26 PM
Mar 2025

U.S. businesses AND the WORLD! HISTORY is being made.

FarPoint

(14,553 posts)
12. My thoughts.....
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 03:29 PM
Mar 2025

If they don't return to work then...they won't get unemployment benefits or loose severance????

rurallib

(64,551 posts)
13. Kind of a side note, but I wonder if they have been locked out
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 03:36 PM
Mar 2025

of their computer systems and emails? It may be hard for them to even do work. I can't imagine Elon's boys will be in any hurry to allow them to be reconnected.

Jesus Christ what a fucking mess this shit is making

Attilatheblond

(8,279 posts)
14. Wondering if their health insurance and pension plans have been closed
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 03:42 PM
Mar 2025

Good people go into public service and RIGHTFULLY expect to be treated fairly.

IronLionZion

(50,817 posts)
16. Move fast and break things
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 03:53 PM
Mar 2025

the meritocracy of super geniuses waits for no one who can't keep up with this level of greatness.

moniss

(8,704 posts)
17. Such complete disrespect to people as human beings and
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 04:21 PM
Mar 2025

although going back to work is good in some ways for them it is not good in all ways. The fundamental disrespect of being ordered around and herded like f**king cattle is bad long term. It ingrains a fundamental disrespect and yes I know some people desperately need the job but for those who can walk away and go someplace else I would encourage them to do so.

This whole attitude in this era of "management", whether public or private, crapping in their hand and rubbing it in the face of workers and whipsawing them back and forth is BS. People and their lives are not just pieces in some game to be pushed, pulled, tossed aside, yanked in and out and treated worse than livestock.

That it happens here and is tolerated here is one of the many reasons that the experience of being employed in the US is pure crap compared to most European countries and Canada. But the lack of willingness by citizens in the US to take large collective actions has been a primary thing that the power structure here counts on. It was not always this bad and the powers that be don't want the people of today to learn about how it was or for those of us old enough to remember to raise our voices in reminding people.

AZJonnie

(2,797 posts)
19. Trump will now just unilaterally fire all the heads of the MSPB and install himself as Supreme Commander
Wed Mar 5, 2025, 10:06 PM
Mar 2025

And say that the law is whatever he and/or Pam say it is. Like he did at the all the other independent agencies like SEC, FCC, etc. Because apparently he has the power to do pretty much anything he wants.

Old Crank

(6,666 posts)
20. Hopefully back pay is included
Thu Mar 6, 2025, 05:48 AM
Mar 2025

Since it is an illegal firing.
Fire management and fine them for their crooked actions.

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