Call to Action: Nearly 6,000 USDA Workers Demand Reinstatement by Trump Administration

Last month, thousands of employees from the Agriculture Department were let go. However, a recent order now requires that they be reinstated for at least 45 days. This ruling came from the Merit Systems Protection Board, which oversees disputes involving federal workers.

Most of these employees were new, having only recently entered their positions. The firings were part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to cut down the federal workforce. Many of these new hires were on probationary status, which meant they had fewer protections compared to veteran employees. This made them easier targets for dismissal. Both President Trump and Elon Musk, known for their tough stance on workforce reduction, viewed probationary employees as a quick way to streamline operations.

Despite being on probation, there are still rules that agencies must follow when firing these employees. Managers need to provide documented evidence of any claimed performance issues.

Cathy Harris, chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board, stated that she found “reasonable grounds” to believe that the Agriculture Department violated a law regarding proper personnel practices when they discharged these probationary workers.

Currently, this order affects around 5,000 to 6,000 employees let go on February 13. The Agriculture Department has not yet commented on the situation. Additionally, if evidence is found that other federal agencies acted similarly in firing their probationary employees, the board may rule in favor of those workers as well.

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United States Politics and Government,Labor and Jobs,Agriculture Department,Merit Systems Protection Board (US),Dellinger, Hampton,Musk, Elon,Trump, Donald J,Cathy Harris