TRENTON, N.J. — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against multiple federal agencies, alleging that the Trump Administration’s mass terminations of federal probationary employees violate federal law and impose financial burdens on states.
The lawsuit challenges the administration’s directive to reduce the size of the federal workforce by firing thousands of probationary employees—new hires or recently promoted workers still within their probationary period. New Jersey officials say the layoffs have already led to 400 terminated federal employees applying for state unemployment benefits since January 20.
“In its callous and reckless mass firings of probationary federal employees, the Trump Administration has harmed thousands of employees and families themselves, including many veterans in our state,” Platkin said.
The attorneys general argue that federal agencies failed to follow legal requirements for large-scale “Reductions in Force” (RIF), including providing at least 60 days’ advance notice to state governments. This notice is required to allow states to prepare assistance for affected workers and ensure job protections for veterans.
New Jersey and other states are asking the court to declare the mass terminations illegal, reinstate affected employees, halt further similar firings, and identify those impacted.
The lawsuit is backed by attorneys general from Maryland, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
The lawsuit alleges that the administration’s actions have disrupted state-federal partnerships and imposed unexpected costs on state governments.
