Supreme Court Upholds Trump Administration’s Decision to Terminate 16,000 Probationary Federal Workers

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, April 8th, in favor of the Trump administration’s decision to terminate 16,000 probationary federal employees, overturning a lower court’s order that required the workers to be reinstated. The employees, who were dismissed from six federal agencies, were part of a broader initiative to downsize the federal workforce.

In a brief, unsigned order, the Court determined that the plaintiffs—nine labor unions and nonprofit groups—lacked the legal standing to challenge the terminations. The justices concluded that the organizations’ harm claims did not support their involvement in the case. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson disagreed, indicating they would have kept the district court’s order in place.

The case stems from a lawsuit challenging the firings, which critics viewed as improperly executed and violating federal law. In response, U.S. District Judge William Alsup had previously ruled that the terminations were unlawful and ordered the affected employees to be reinstated at agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Agriculture.

The Trump administration swiftly appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the unions and nonprofits had no legal right to intervene. Solicitor General D. John Sauer emphasized that the agencies had directed the layoffs and intended to stand by their decisions.

The unions, which had hoped to preserve the reinstatement order, expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court’s decision. “Despite this setback, our coalition remains unwavering in fighting for these workers who were wronged by the administration,” the group stated. They further argued that the terminations had significant repercussions, leaving crucial gaps in federal programs and affecting services vital to millions of Americans.

The ruling adds to several recent Supreme Court decisions siding with the Trump administration in similar legal battles. However, some employees will remain on paid administrative leave due to a separate lawsuit filed in Maryland, which continues to challenge the firings.