Judge Orders OPM to Offer Reinstatement Across 6 Agencies to Fired Probationary Federal Employees — Common Defense Responds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2025
PRESS CONTACT: press@commondefense.us
Judge rules workers were illegally fired by Trump administration
San Francisco, CA — Today, U.S. District Judge William H. Alsup granted a preliminary injunction against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Acting Director Charles Ezell, confirming that the termination of probationary federal employees was illegal due to OPM’s lack of authority to enforce mass terminations across agencies. The order extends relief to workers at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury.
This decision marks a major step toward justice for the hardworking Americans who were unjustly targeted. Last month, Common Defense Civic Engagement, alongside a coalition of public service unions, small businesses, veterans, and conservation organizations, took legal action to halt what we described as ”one of the most massive employment frauds in the history of this country”
This order reinforces the importance of holding government agencies accountable and protecting workers from unlawful termination. It underscores the need for fair treatment of federal employees and adherence to federal statutes and the Constitution.
Common Defense’s Executive Director, Jose Vasquez issued the following statement in response to the decision:
"This is a win for the thousands of public servants who keep our country running, for veterans and their families who rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies, and for the millions of Americans who depend on critical government services. The court’s decision stops a blatant power grab that threatened to gut essential services, from veterans’ healthcare to disaster relief. Today, justice prevailed, but our fight continues to ensure no administration can ever again play politics with the livelihoods of those who serve our country and our communities.”
Common Defense remains committed to defending democracy, protecting workers’ rights, and ensuring that those who serve the public are treated with the dignity and fairness they deserve. We will continue to fight for a government that upholds justice and serves the people.
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Common Defense Civic Engagement is a grassroots, veteran-led organization (501c4) that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.