Maryland, along with 19 other states, is suing several federal agencies, alleging that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated thousands of federal employees who were still in their probationary periods.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is spearheading the coalition of attorneys general in the lawsuit, which was submitted late Thursday in Maryland. The state estimates that roughly 10% of its households receive income from the federal government.
“The harsh actions of the Trump-Vance Administration could result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs, disruption of hundreds of thousands of lives, and a significant decrease in income in Maryland,” stated Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, on Friday, expressing his support for the complaint.
Brown took further action on Friday by requesting a temporary restraining order in federal court in Maryland. He aims to halt any further dismissals of federal probationary employees and to reinstate those who have already been let go.
The lawsuit asserts that the mass firings will place undue burdens and costs on the states. States will be responsible for supporting newly unemployed workers and processing unemployment assistance claims. According to Brown’s office, over 800 former federal employees in Maryland have already applied for unemployment benefits.
The lawsuit also argues that the layoffs will negatively impact state finances due to the loss of tax revenue.
“President Trump’s illegal mass firings of federal workers are a clear assault on the civil service, pushing thousands of hardworking families into financial hardship,” Brown, a Democrat, said in a press release. “Instead of abiding by the law and informing states, his administration caught Maryland off guard, forcing us to deal with the resulting economic devastation and social consequences.”
Trump, a Republican, has stated that his goal is to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within the federal government. The president and his adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have terminated both new and established employees, instructing agency heads to prepare for “large-scale reductions in force.” These actions have led to multiple lawsuits, with unions and attorneys general challenging Doge’s authority. Attempts to reach the White House and Justice Department for comment were unsuccessful.
Probationary workers have been targeted for layoffs across the federal government because they typically are new to their positions and do not have full civil service protection.
While federal agencies have claimed that the employees were fired due to unsatisfactory performance or conduct, the lawsuit argues that the firings were part of the administration’s plan to restructure and downsize the entire government.
This means that the administration was required to adhere to federal laws and regulations governing large-scale federal reductions in force, according to the lawsuit. For instance, the attorneys stated that regulations mandate that government agencies consider an employee’s tenure, performance, and veteran status when making termination decisions. Regulations also typically require 60 days’ advance notice of termination in a reduction in force.
“This has caused and will continue to cause significant and irreparable harm to the Plaintiff States, as they must now manage a sudden increase in unemployment, without the advance notice required under the federal (reduction in force) statute and regulations,” the lawsuit states.
The attorneys general are requesting that the court reinstate the fired employees and prevent any further terminations of federal employees.
The other states that have joined the lawsuit include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The District of Columbia is also a plaintiff.
