A US federal judge has ordered the reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees fired last month by the Trump administration. Judge William Alsup ruled that the mass firings at multiple federal departments, including Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Treasury, were a deliberate attempt to bypass legal workforce reduction procedures.

The Department of Justice argued that the terminations followed guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), but the judge dismissed this claim, citing termination letters that explicitly mentioned OPM instructions. He called the move a “sham” and criticized the unjust firing of employees with strong performance records.

Government employee unions argued that probationary workers were targeted because they lacked appeal rights. Meanwhile, the White House condemned the ruling, calling it an unconstitutional overreach and vowing to challenge it.

Elon Musk, reportedly tasked with downsizing the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was not directly mentioned in the hearing, though his role remains a topic of debate. While the White House denies his leadership in the agency, Trump previously referred to him as its head during a congressional address.