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The attorneys general of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and 18 other states have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging that the recent termination of probationary federal employees was conducted unlawfully.
The lawsuit is one of several legal challenges seeking redress for tens of thousands of affected workers. The plaintiffs argue that federal agencies misrepresented the nature of the terminations, issuing letters stating that employees were dismissed for performance-related reasons when, in reality, the agencies were engaged in a reduction in force without following proper legal procedures.
Under federal law, agencies planning to lay off 50 or more employees must provide states with at least 60 days’ notice. This requirement allows states to mobilize rapid response teams that assist displaced workers with job placement, career counseling, and other support services. Failure to provide timely notice, the complaint contends, disrupts state efforts to mitigate the economic impact of mass terminations.
“Economic dislocation of workers can easily create a cascade of instability throughout a regional economy,” the attorneys general argue in their filing.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Maryland, seeks a temporary restraining order to halt further terminations of probationary employees and reinstate those already dismissed. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 12.
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