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
elleng
(141,926 posts)enough
(13,685 posts)elleng
(141,926 posts)How LONG will it take us all, to say NO and to heal!?
BOSSHOG
(44,738 posts)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.
Hope22
(4,468 posts)I hope they get pay for the days they were improperly fired.
progressoid
(52,570 posts)elleng
(141,926 posts)Grins
(9,245 posts)Micheal4119
(1 post)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. Its 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)The chaos is just NOW beginning to show it's horrendous face.
LetMyPeopleVote
(174,948 posts)elleng
(141,926 posts)U.S. businesses AND the WORLD! HISTORY is being made.
FarPoint
(14,553 posts)If they don't return to work then...they won't get unemployment benefits or loose severance????
rurallib
(64,551 posts)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)Good people go into public service and RIGHTFULLY expect to be treated fairly.
moonshinegnomie
(3,861 posts)IronLionZion
(50,817 posts)the meritocracy of super geniuses waits for no one who can't keep up with this level of greatness.
moniss
(8,704 posts)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.
travelingthrulife
(4,463 posts)This is so nuts.
AZJonnie
(2,797 posts)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)Since it is an illegal firing.
Fire management and fine them for their crooked actions.