Trump Administration Revises Federal Employee Firing Guidelines Following Court Ruling
After a judge ruled the OPM lacked authority to mandate firings, the Trump administration clarified agency autonomy over probationary employee terminations.
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OPM issued the revised memo in part to provide clarity in light of a recent court order, an agency spokesperson confirmed, referring to last week's ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco.
OPM alters memo about probationary employees but does not order mass firings reversed
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The Trump administration's reversal could be seen as a move to align with recent legal standards and may significantly impact how federal agencies manage their personnel—especially those still within their probationary period.
Trump admin gives agencies back power to fire government employees
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Trump's mass firings of federal workers have been steered by the Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Trump administration revises directive on mass firings of federal workers
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The revised guidance comes days after a federal judge ordered the Office of Personnel Management to rescind its earlier instructions telling other federal agencies to "promptly determine" whether probationary employees "should be retained at the agency."
Trump administration rescinds guidance directing agencies to fire probationary employees
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The mass firings were a drastic move by Mr. Trump in his effort to cut the size of the federal government.
Trump administration revises directive to federal agencies on mass firings
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Summary
The Trump administration updated its guidance on the firing of probationary federal employees, specifying that agencies have ultimate decision-making authority. This follows a court ruling that found the Office of Personnel Management lacked the authority to direct mass firings, leading to calls for the reinstatement of those terminated. The American Federation of Government Employees emphasized this change as an admission of earlier unlawful directives, urging agencies to rescind terminations.
Perspectives
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) revised its guidance to federal agencies regarding the dismissal of probationary employees, emphasizing that decision-making authority lies with individual agencies rather than OPM.
This change follows a ruling by a federal judge stating that OPM lacked the legal authority to mandate employee terminations across agencies, which has significant implications for the management of federal personnel.
Labor unions have called for the reinstatement of recently terminated probationary employees, arguing that the original guidance from OPM was unlawful and that agencies should rescind those terminations.