Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford, along with a coalition of 20 attorneys general, has filed for a temporary restraining order against several federal agencies. The request aims to halt the alleged illegal mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and seek their reinstatement.
The motion seeks immediate relief due to the impact these firings have on Nevada and other plaintiff states. According to the coalition, the sudden terminations are putting pressure on state resources needed to support newly unemployed workers and manage unemployment claims. Additionally, they argue that these layoffs could negatively affect state finances and disrupt important state-federal partnerships.
“These mass firings will leave Nevadans unemployed and strain our state’s resources and finances in the aftermath,” said AG Ford. “Firing these employees for no reason and on a mass scale leaves our state — and our taxpayers — on the hook. We will take care of our own, but the federal government cannot simply throw such a financial burden on the states without consideration or planning. These firings are unlawful, and I will take any action necessary to protect Nevadans and Nevada’s resources.”
The Trump administration had initiated these terminations as part of an effort to reduce the size of the federal government. This involved ordering numerous federal agencies to dismiss thousands of probationary employees who were either newly hired or recently promoted. These employees typically undergo a probationary period before receiving full employment protections under federal law.
Federal agencies claimed that unsatisfactory performance or conduct was behind these dismissals; however, the attorneys general argue that this was part of an administrative restructuring effort requiring adherence to specific laws governing large-scale “Reductions in Force” (RIF). Such regulations ensure preferences for certain personnel like military veterans during job retention processes.
When a RIF involves laying off 50 or more employees, agencies are generally required to provide at least 60 days’ notice to state governments so they can offer essential information, resources, and services to affected workers. The lawsuit alleges that this advance notice was not given to Nevada, resulting in significant expenses as the state addresses these sudden layoffs.
AG Ford is seeking an immediate court ruling for reinstating unlawfully terminated employees, stopping further similar actions, and identifying those affected.
Joining AG Ford in this legal action are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington D.C.
Reviewing court documents reveals details about granting this temporary restraining order.
