Federal Board Orders USDA to Reinstate 5,600 Fired Employees

The Merit Systems Protection Board ruled the terminations likely violated federal law, requiring temporary reinstatement while investigations continue.

The U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board has ordered the USDA to temporarily reinstate 5,600 probationary employees who were recently terminated.
The board found reasonable grounds to believe the firings violated federal laws and procedures, citing improper methods used to carry out the terminations.
The reinstatement will last for 45 days while investigations into the legality of the mass terminations are conducted.
The Trump administration has sought to reduce the federal workforce by at least 10%, with similar layoffs occurring across other agencies.
The decision could set a precedent for challenging mass terminations at other federal agencies, though the administration retains options to reassign or terminate employees through formal processes.