The Union Reports That US Labor Department Reinstates Workers Affected by Trump Job Cuts
The U.S. Department of Labor has reinstated approximately 120 employees who were at risk of termination due to the mass firings of recently hired workers during the Trump administration, according to a union announcement made on Friday.
The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union representing federal employees, stated that these probationary workers were restored to their positions immediately, with the department sending letters instructing them to return to work on Monday.
Tim Kauffman, a spokesperson for the union, said in a statement, “We understand this decision impacts around 120 employees, most of whom had been on administrative leave.” One letter reviewed by Reuters informed an employee that the department would “utilize the remainder of your probationary/trial period to assess whether your appointment serves the public’s best interest.”
Neither the Labor Department nor the White House responded to inquiries for comment. The reinstatement took place just a day after President Donald Trump instructed his cabinet members that they, not Elon Musk, would have the final authority over staffing and policies within their agencies.
Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency were commissioned by Trump to reduce the size and costs of the federal bureaucracy. So far, around 25,000 employees have been terminated, and another 75,000 have accepted buyouts from the 2.3 million-strong federal civilian workforce.
On Thursday, Trump emphasized the necessity of reducing workforce levels but advised agencies to approach cuts with a “scalpel” instead of a “hatchet.” Additionally, a day prior, the Merit Systems Protection Board directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to temporarily reinstate nearly 6,000 probationary employees while they review a challenge regarding their firings. This board reviews appeals made by federal employees regarding their terminations or disciplinary actions. Typically, probationary workers have less than a year of service in their current positions, although some may have longer tenures in federal roles.
Skye Perryman, from the liberal legal group Democracy Forward, which is contesting the firings, praised the Labor Department’s decision to reverse its stance on the termination of probationary employees. “All other agencies should follow this example and reinstate these workers without delay,” she stated.
