The recent court documents brought to light by Bloomberg Law reveal that the Treasury is in the final stages of crafting a strategy to adhere to President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating Musk’s workforce reduction. This move will have significant implications as outlined in the filings by Deputy Assistant Secretary Trevor Norris.
Key points from the court filing include:
- The Treasury’s impending plans will be customized for each department, with an emphasis on separating a substantial number of employees based on seniority.
- This impending “reductions in workforce” scheme is structured such that it will predominantly impact probationary employees over others.
- Currently, the Treasury boasts a workforce of over 100,000 employees.
The legal proceedings are a result of Maryland’s lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture, which triggered a temporary freeze on Trump’s decision to dismiss probationary employees throughout the federal government.
The document provides an update on the restoration of probationary employees who were previously dismissed due to Musk’s initiative:
- Within the Treasury, out of the 7,611 probationary employees laid off, nearly all have been reinstated, barring 51 who opted out of returning voluntarily.
- Lori Michalski, Chief Human Capital Officer for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), disclosed that 312 probationary employees were let go initially, with 13 reinstated, eight declining reinstatement, and 296 in the process of being reinstated following HUD’s intervention.
- Adam Martinez, acting Chief Human Capital Officer at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), confirmed the dismissal of 117 probationary employees, with two already securing employment elsewhere while the remaining individuals are undergoing reinstatement procedures.
The ongoing lawsuit is just one of many legal battles confronting the Trump administration over Musk’s workforce reduction and unilateral withdrawal of funding for various federal departments and grants.
In conclusion, the evolving developments in the Treasury and other departments reflect a multi-faceted approach to accommodate Musk’s directives, presenting complex challenges and bearing significant consequences on the federal workforce. As the legal saga unfolds, it underscores a pivotal moment in administrative governance and highlights the importance of upholding due process and fair employment practices within the federal apparatus.
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