White House Calls Rehiring Order ‘Absurd And Unconstitutional’

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A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to rehire thousands of dismissed federal workers, drawing harsh criticism from the White House which called the ruling “absurd and unconstitutional.”

Key Takeaways

U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of federal employees who were fired in February 2025.
The White House condemned the ruling as an unconstitutional attempt by the judiciary to control executive branch hiring decisions.
Judge Alsup ruled that the mass terminations violated federal “Reduction in Force” procedures and called the government’s performance-based justifications a “sham.”
The ruling affects employees from six major federal departments including Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Treasury.
Labor unions praised the decision as a victory for federal workers’ rights, while the administration plans to appeal.

Federal Judge Mandates Rehiring of Thousands

U.S. District Judge William Alsup, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, issued a sweeping order requiring the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of federal employees who were terminated around February 13. The ruling affects workers from the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Energy, Interior, Agriculture, and Treasury. Judge Alsup found that these terminations violated federal laws governing “Reduction in Force” procedures that must be followed when conducting large-scale workforce reductions in government agencies.

The judge was particularly critical of the administration’s handling of the terminations, accusing government officials of obstructing the court’s efforts to uncover the truth behind the firings. Alsup ordered the deposition of Office of Personnel Management (OPM) senior adviser Noah Peters and criticized the withdrawal of a declaration by OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell. The court also took issue with the administration’s claim that the employees were fired for performance reasons, with Alsup calling this justification a “gimmick” to bypass legal requirements.

The White House slammed a federal judge’s ruling on Thursday as “absurd and unconstitutional” after he ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of federal employees who were fired last month.

“A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power…

— News News News (@NewsNew97351204) March 13, 2025

White House Denounces Judicial Overreach

The White House responded forcefully to the ruling, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issuing a statement condemning what the administration views as judicial overreach. “A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch,” Leavitt said, emphasizing the administration’s position that workforce decisions fall squarely within presidential authority. The Trump administration has pledged to appeal the decision immediately.

“If a federal district court judge would like executive powers, they can try and run for President themselves. The Trump Administration will immediately fight back against this absurd and unconstitutional order,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

The Justice Department has argued that the firings were part of President Trump’s broader goal to reduce government size and improve efficiency. The administration has consistently maintained that the President has the constitutional authority to manage the federal workforce as he sees fit, including making personnel decisions that align with his policy objectives of streamlining government operations.

Labor Unions Celebrate Victory

Labor unions representing federal workers have hailed the court’s decision as a significant win for employee rights. The lawsuit that led to this ruling was brought by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) along with other labor organizations. These groups argued that the terminations were unlawful and caused irreparable harm to dedicated public servants, many of whom had received positive feedback prior to being let go.

“Public service workers are the backbone of our communities in every way. Today, we are proud to celebrate the court’s decision which orders that fired federal employees must be reinstated and reinforces they cannot be fired without reason,” AFSCME President Lee Saunders said.

The ruling particularly impacts probationary federal workers, who are typically newer employees or those recently promoted. Veterans, who make up approximately 30% of the federal workforce, were significantly affected by the firings. Everett Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, expressed gratitude for the court’s intervention and pledged to continue fighting until all unjustly terminated employees are reinstated.

Legal Battle Sets Stage for Larger Constitutional Showdown

Judge Alsup’s order goes beyond simply reinstating workers. It also prohibits the Office of Personnel Management from issuing guidance on employee termination and orders further discovery to uncover additional details about how the termination decisions were made. The judge emphasized that any reduction in the federal workforce must follow established legal processes, regardless of the administration’s policy goals.

“It is a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that is a lie,” said Judge William Alsup

This legal confrontation represents a significant challenge to President Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government. As the administration prepares its appeal, the case may ultimately work its way through higher courts, potentially setting important precedents regarding the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches in matters of federal employment.