New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 19 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday, alleging illegal termination of thousands of probationary federal workers, including hundreds in New York, without proper notice.
The lawsuit contends that the administration violated federal law by failing to provide the required 60-day advance notice before conducting mass layoffs, known as Reductions in Force, according to a press release.
The advance notice is meant to allow states to mobilize resources for unemployment claims and other support for affected workers.
According to the lawsuit, the administration ordered federal agencies to immediately terminate probationary employees --workers who were recently hired, promoted or reassigned --without due process. The layoffs have disrupted services, and forced states to scramble to provide support for the newly unemployed, James said.
In New York alone, at least 372 federal workers filed for unemployment in the last week of February. More than 1,000 employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs were terminated nationwide, including staff at VA medical centers in New York. Seven Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees assigned to New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene were also dismissed. Additionally, more than 100 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workers in Buffalo and Syracuse lost their jobs, leaving taxpayers with fewer resources at the peak of tax season.
James and her counterparts argue that the mass firings not only violate federal labor laws but also jeopardize critical government functions.
“Whether it’s providing health care to our veterans, keeping our communities safe, or ensuring our children get a quality education, federal employees provide essential services every day,” said James. “The Trump administration’s illegal mass firings of federal workers are a slap in the face to those who have spent their careers serving our country. Thousands of workers across New York and the nation are now struggling to pay rent, put food on the table, and care for their loved ones."
