Maryland and 19 other states, led by Attorney General Anthony Brown, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging illegal firings of federal probationary workers. The lawsuit, filed in Maryland, argues that these mass firings could result in significant job losses, disruptions to lives, and income loss. Brown has sought a temporary restraining order to halt further firings and reinstate dismissed employees. The lawsuit claims that the layoffs will burden states with supporting unemployed workers and reviewing unemployment claims, leading to financial strain and lost tax revenue.

President Trump’s administration justifies the firings as a means to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in the federal government, aiming for large-scale reductions in force. However, the lawsuit argues that the firings are part of a broader attempt to restructure and downsize the government without following the necessary federal laws and regulations. Probationary workers, lacking full civil service protection, have been disproportionately affected.

The attorneys general are seeking to reinstate the fired employees and prevent further terminations. Other states joining the lawsuit include Arizona, California, Colorado, and New York, among others. The lawsuit highlights the abrupt nature of the firings and the lack of required advance notice, causing harm to the plaintiff states and their sudden surge in unemployment. The outcome of this legal challenge will have implications for the affected workers and the administration’s restructuring efforts.