A big win for USDA workers—but their future is still uncertain
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Nearly 6,000 Department of Agriculture employees lost their jobs under the Trump administration.
Now, a new ruling from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is questioning whether those terminations were lawful.
But with an investigation still underway, it’s unclear whether these workers will keep their jobs for good.
A sudden mass firing—and a legal challenge
The layoffs began in February 2024 when thousands of USDA probationary employees—those still in their first year of service—were dismissed.
The Trump administration justified the move by claiming their continued employment was "not in the public interest."
However, a special counsel later reviewed the decision and argued that the firings may not have followed proper legal procedures.
That challenge led to this week’s MSPB ruling, which orders the USDA to bring the workers back—at least for now.
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Board member Cathy Harris, who wrote the opinion, emphasized that this is a temporary measure as the special counsel continues its review.
The USDA now has five days to confirm it has complied with the order.
One of the workers, a forestry technician, was let go despite having "only positive feedback" from agency leadership.
According to the MSPB decision, "his supervisor was not even aware he was going to be fired until hours before he was notified."
That technician is just one of 5,950 employees whose careers were abruptly halted.
Also read: Trump makes a bold move at the DOJ—what it means for Biden-era officials
While the ruling is a major step, it does not guarantee these employees will keep their jobs long-term.
The special counsel will continue investigating whether the firings were unlawful, and the MSPB may revisit its decision based on the findings.
This case is also part of a larger pattern.
Courts have recently reversed the Trump administration’s attempts to fire key government officials overseeing worker protections, including Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger and MSPB board member Cathy Harris.
The USDA decision could set a precedent for similar cases across other federal agencies.
It also highlights the protections in place for government employees and raises questions about how future workforce reductions will be handled.
For now, the reinstated workers can return—but whether they’ll stay is still up in the air.
What do you think about the MSPB’s ruling? Have you or someone you know been affected by federal workforce changes? Join the conversation in the comments below.
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Now, a new ruling from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is questioning whether those terminations were lawful.
But with an investigation still underway, it’s unclear whether these workers will keep their jobs for good.
A sudden mass firing—and a legal challenge
The layoffs began in February 2024 when thousands of USDA probationary employees—those still in their first year of service—were dismissed.
The Trump administration justified the move by claiming their continued employment was "not in the public interest."
Thousands of fired USDA employees are getting their jobs back. Image source: KING 5 Seattle / YouTube
However, a special counsel later reviewed the decision and argued that the firings may not have followed proper legal procedures.
That challenge led to this week’s MSPB ruling, which orders the USDA to bring the workers back—at least for now.
Also read: Trump administration shakes up international institutions with surprise decisions–What happens next?
The ruling and its impact
The reinstatement order, issued Wednesday, states that employees must return "immediately, at least for 45 days," while a deeper investigation takes place.Board member Cathy Harris, who wrote the opinion, emphasized that this is a temporary measure as the special counsel continues its review.
The USDA now has five days to confirm it has complied with the order.
The human cost of the layoffs
For those affected, the ruling offers relief—if only temporarily.One of the workers, a forestry technician, was let go despite having "only positive feedback" from agency leadership.
According to the MSPB decision, "his supervisor was not even aware he was going to be fired until hours before he was notified."
That technician is just one of 5,950 employees whose careers were abruptly halted.
Also read: Trump makes a bold move at the DOJ—what it means for Biden-era officials
What happens next?
While the ruling is a major step, it does not guarantee these employees will keep their jobs long-term.
The special counsel will continue investigating whether the firings were unlawful, and the MSPB may revisit its decision based on the findings.
This case is also part of a larger pattern.
Courts have recently reversed the Trump administration’s attempts to fire key government officials overseeing worker protections, including Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger and MSPB board member Cathy Harris.
The USDA decision could set a precedent for similar cases across other federal agencies.
It also highlights the protections in place for government employees and raises questions about how future workforce reductions will be handled.
For now, the reinstated workers can return—but whether they’ll stay is still up in the air.
Read more: Trump plans meeting with Putin–A step towards ending the war?
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