WASHINGTON — Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is spearheading a legal challenge joined by 19 other states against the Trump administration’s sweeping dismissal of federal probationary workers. The coalition asserts that these layoffs not only violate federal laws but also subsequently burden state resources significantly.
Brown announced the formation of this coalition on Thursday evening, highlighting the abrupt terminations as part of a broader effort by the administration to downsize the federal workforce. He maintained that the move infringes on necessary state-federal cooperation and imposes financial strains by escalating unemployment claims and associated administrative costs.
According to Brown, the firings were carried out with minimal notice and dubious justifications related to performance and conduct, suggesting a larger strategy to restructure governmental operatons at the expense of employee security. In response to these actions, the lawsuit filed by Maryland seeks judicial intervention to halt further terminations, reinstate those wrongfully dismissed, and ensure proper identification and legal protection for affected employees.
Legal statutes stipulate that when federal job cuts exceed 50 positions, affected states should receive prior notification of 60 days. This period is critical for state agencies to mobilize support services for the impacted workers. However, Maryland and other states claim this protocol was ignored, leaving them unprepared for the ramifications of such mass layoffs.
Already, more than 800 former federal employees in Maryland have applied for unemployment benefits, signifying the immediate impact of the job losses on local communities and state services.
The lawsuit also emphasizes the importance of adhering to regulations that prioritize job retention for military veterans, suggesting that the administration’s failure to comply could potentially disadvantage this protected group.
The multi-state legal action includes attorneys general from Minnesota, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. This collaborative effort underlines the widespread concern among states over federal employment practices and their broader implications.
This legal confrontation follows a series of controversial policy moves by the Trump administration, which critics argue undermine the stability and fairness of the civil service system, spreading uncertainty among thousands of federal employees and their families.
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