Attorney General Neronha joins coalition to stop mass firings of federal probationary employees
"This is another attempt to subvert the rule of law as an illegal means to an end and coalesce executive power in the process."
Press release:
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against numerous federal agencies for conducting illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees.
These mass firings will cause irreparable burdens and expenses on the part of the states, both to support recently unemployed workers, and to review and adjudicate unemployment assistance claims. Moreover, the unlawful layoffs will harm state finances and undermine vital state-federal partnerships.
“The Trump Administration is thoughtlessly, indiscriminately, and illegally firing probationary federal employees, leaving hard-working Americans across the country jobless,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Moreover, these mass layoffs require adequate notice to the states, and without appropriate notice, states cannot prepare to properly serve affected workers. If the President wants to reduce the size of the federal government, he must do so through legal means. This is another attempt to subvert the rule of law as an illegal means to an end and coalesce executive power in the process. These protections are on the books for a reason, and we won’t stand for this attack on American workers and their families.”
To dramatically reduce the size of the federal government, the Trump Administration initiated mass terminations of federal employees, ordering numerous federal agencies to fire thousands of probationary employees. These personnel are newly hired or have recently been promoted or changed offices, and they are generally subject to a probationary period of one or two years.
While federal agencies claimed, via termination letters, that these probationary employees were fired for unsatisfactory performance or conduct, the firings were part of the Administration’s attempt to restructure and downsize the entire federal government. In the lawsuit, the coalition contends that the Administration is required to follow federal laws and regulations that govern large-scale federal “Reductions in Force” (RIF). These critical protections ensure that personnel such as military veterans are given preference in retaining their jobs.
When a RIF results in a layoff of 50 or more employees, the agency must generally give at least 60 days’ advance notice to state governments, so that they can provide vital “rapid response” information, resources, and services to affected workers. The federal agencies in the lawsuit failed to provide any advance notice to the states.
With the lawsuit, the coalition is asking the court to:
rule that the mass firing of probationary employees is illegal;
reinstate unlawfully fired employees;
stop further similar terminations; and
identify affected employees
Joining Attorney General Neronha are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
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Attorney General Neronha and coalition win temporary block on mass firings of federal probationary employees
Federal judge orders 18 federal agencies to give employees their jobs back by Monday
Attorney General Neronha joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general to issue the following statement after a federal judge in the United States District Court for Maryland issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) for 18 federal agencies, ordering them to stop the illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and to reinstate fired employees by 1:00pm on Monday, March 17, 2025.
President Trump blindsided Rhode Island when he fired thousands of federal probationary employees without giving us the 60-day notice required by law. He jeopardized these employees' financial security, threatened Rhode Island’s economy, and risked overwhelming our State’s ability to help those who were out of work.
This ruling not only requires the Trump Administration to stop these indiscriminate and unlawful layoffs but also orders it to undo the harm inflicted on Rhode Island by restoring the jobs of hardworking federal employees.
These mass firings reflect a disregard for both the law and the essential role of the civil service in maintaining government stability. My Office is committed to upholding the rule of law and will take every necessary legal step to ensure compliance with this court order.
The TRO order comes seven days after Attorney General Neronha joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general on March 6, 2025, in suing numerous federal agencies for causing irreparable injuries to Rhode Island and the other plaintiff states. The lawsuit sought immediate relief. The TRO stops the unlawful mass firings, orders the agencies to give those employees their jobs back, and applies to the following 18 federal agencies:
Department of Agriculture
Department of Transportation
Department of Commerce
Department of Treasury
Department of Education
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Energy
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Department of Health and Human Services
Environmental Protection Agency
Department of Homeland Security
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Department of Housing and Urban Development
General Services Administration
Department of Interior
Small Business Administration
Department of Labor
United States Agency for International Development
Attorney General Neronha is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.