Judge who ordered federal worker reinstatement narrows ruling

Driving the news: U.S. District Judge James Bredar ordered Tuesday that his previously nationwide halt on the firings of probationary employees could only apply to the 19 states and the District of Columbia involved in a lawsuit against the layoffs.

• "Not every state joined this lawsuit," Bredar wrote, adding that a national injunction was not warranted.
• "Perhaps a broader injunction would be in order if this action were on behalf of the thousands of employees who were laid off ... but this is not the case. Only states have sued here, and only to vindicate their interests as states," he wrote.

Catch up quick: Last month, 19 states and the D.C. sued the government over the mass firings of probationary employees, and Bredar issued a temporary restraining order to halt the firings pending the lawsuit's resolution.

• However, at a hearing later that month Bredar expressed doubt that he had the authority to issue a national injunction that included states not involved in the lawsuit, Reuters reported.

Between the lines: The original lawsuit stated that 24,000 probationary workers had been fired to date and would have been covered by the nationwide injunction.

• It's not immediately clear how many of these employees are now no longer protected by the temporary halt on firings, making them vulnerable to layoffs once again.

Go deeper: 2nd judge orders agencies to reinstate thousands of fired federal workers