Federal watchdog Trump wants to oust tries to stop probationary staff firings
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
President Trump at the White House on Monday. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
A government watchdog who oversees federal workers' whistleblower reports said Monday his office is seeking to halt some of the Trump administration's mass firings of federal workers.
The big picture: Hampton Dellinger, who's suing the administration after President Trump tried to remove him from his role leading the Office of Special Counsel, said he's requested that the firing of six probationary agency workers be halted due to concerns the action may violate the law — and he indicated he may intervene in more cases.
- The Trump administration is facing several lawsuits as it conducts mass firings of federal workers that officials say is part of a drive to save money and reduce bloat.
Driving the news: Dellinger filed a request on Friday for a 45-day stay in the probationary workers' firings "across various executive branch agencies" with the independent agency the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which reviews the Office of Personnel Management actions, per a statement from the special counsel's office.
- "Firing probationary employees without individualized cause appears contrary to a reasonable reading of the law, particularly the provisions establishing rules for reductions in force," Dellinger said in the statement.
- "I believe I have a responsibility to request a stay of these actions while my agency continues to investigate further the apparent violation of federal personnel laws," he added, citing a Congressional direction for watchdogs to protect government employees from prohibited personnel practices.
- "The Special Counsel believes other probationary employees are similarly situated to the six workers for whom he currently is seeking relief. Dellinger is considering ways to seek relief for a broader group without the need for individual filings."
Zoom in: Dellinger recommended halting the firings following a class complaint brought by advocacy group Democracy Forward and the Alden Law Group seeking to reinstate federal workers, Government Executive first reported Monday.
Zoom out: Dellinger sued the Trump administration after Trump moved to fire him on Feb. 7 and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order temporarily blocking his dismissal.
- Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris called the judge's action an "unprecedented assault on the separation of powers," but the U.S. Supreme Court declined to weigh in on the matter until the judge's order expires this Wednesday.
Meanwhile, MSPB chair Cathy Harris was also removed from her role by Trump before filing a lawsuit against the administration and being reinstated after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order.
- Representatives for the Trump administration did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.
Go deeper: Supreme Court delays Trump's firing of agency head
Editor's note: This article has been updated with more context.
