California (Thechieftainspear) – A coalition of 20 states, led by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, has filed a federal lawsuit against multiple federal agencies, arguing that the Trump administration has unlawfully terminated thousands of probationary federal employees.
The lawsuit, filed in Maryland late Thursday, claims that the administration’s actions violate federal laws regulating mass layoffs within the civil service. The state of Maryland estimates that around 10% of its households depend on federal wages, making the issue particularly significant for its residents.
Allegations of Unlawful Firings
California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the firings, calling them an illegal and reckless directive that disrupts essential government operations.
“These abrupt terminations do not curb waste or inefficiency as the administration claims. Instead, they create operational chaos, increase rehiring costs, and impose a long-term financial burden on taxpayers,” Bonta said.
The lawsuit argues that the dismissals harm state economies by reducing tax revenue and increasing the number of people seeking unemployment benefits. In Maryland alone, over 800 recently fired federal workers have already applied for assistance, according to Brown’s office.
Seeking Immediate Action
On Friday, Brown filed for a temporary restraining order in federal court, seeking to halt additional firings and reinstate employees who have already lost their jobs.
The lawsuit warns that the mass layoffs will put an excessive burden on state resources, forcing states to process an influx of unemployment claims while also dealing with lost tax revenue.
Brown criticized the administration’s approach, calling it an attack on the civil service.
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“President Trump’s mass firings have thrown thousands of hardworking families into financial distress,” Brown said in a statement. “Instead of following the law and notifying states in advance, the administration blindsided us, leaving Maryland and other states to deal with the fallout.”
Targeting the Federal Workforce
The Trump administration has defended the move as part of its effort to streamline the federal government, citing concerns over waste and inefficiency. The administration, in coordination with the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk’s adviser team, has urged agencies to prepare for sweeping workforce reductions.
Probationary employees—who are typically newer hires and lack full civil service protections—have been the primary targets of these layoffs.
Federal agencies have justified the terminations by citing poor performance or misconduct. However, the lawsuit argues that these firings were part of a broader restructuring effort, requiring the government to follow established reduction-in-force procedures. Those rules mandate that agencies consider factors such as tenure, performance history, and veteran status when making personnel decisions. Additionally, affected employees should receive at least 60 days’ notice before termination.
Legal Challenge Moving Forward
The lawsuit seeks a court order to halt further terminations and reinstate affected employees. The states argue that the administration’s failure to follow legal procedures has caused irreparable harm, leaving states unprepared for the economic and social consequences of mass layoffs.
In addition to Maryland and California, other states joining the lawsuit include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, along with the District of Columbia.
The White House and the Justice Department have not responded to requests for comment .
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