Chris Arnold

The judge said a lot, actually. This is a dramatic hearing. This is District Judge William Alsup. And one thing he said is that these workers were lied to about why they were fired. He said, quote, it's a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that that is a lie.

The judge said a lot, actually. This is a dramatic hearing. This is District Judge William Alsup. And one thing he said is that these workers were lied to about why they were fired. He said, quote, it's a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that that is a lie.

And the idea there is that firing workers for bad performance made it easier to fire them, but it wasn't true. Many workers got glowing reviews from supervisors. They'd been doing a good job. We've spoken with some of these workers. The judge called the mass firing a sham to get around statutory requirements.

And the idea there is that firing workers for bad performance made it easier to fire them, but it wasn't true. Many workers got glowing reviews from supervisors. They'd been doing a good job. We've spoken with some of these workers. The judge called the mass firing a sham to get around statutory requirements.

And the idea there is that firing workers for bad performance made it easier to fire them, but it wasn't true. Many workers got glowing reviews from supervisors. They'd been doing a good job. We've spoken with some of these workers. The judge called the mass firing a sham to get around statutory requirements.

And he said that the administration exceeded its authority by having one office in the government direct so many other agencies to just summarily fire all these workers.

And he said that the administration exceeded its authority by having one office in the government direct so many other agencies to just summarily fire all these workers.

And he said that the administration exceeded its authority by having one office in the government direct so many other agencies to just summarily fire all these workers.

Right. The government argued that agencies made their own decisions. The firings were proper. But the judge, again, said, quote, you know, I tend to doubt that you're telling me the truth at that point. The White House is unamused by all of this.

Right. The government argued that agencies made their own decisions. The firings were proper. But the judge, again, said, quote, you know, I tend to doubt that you're telling me the truth at that point. The White House is unamused by all of this.

Right. The government argued that agencies made their own decisions. The firings were proper. But the judge, again, said, quote, you know, I tend to doubt that you're telling me the truth at that point. The White House is unamused by all of this.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a statement, quote, a single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the executive branch. The administration has now appealed, but now it's not a single judge. Last night, this ruling came down in the second case. The judge sided with Democratic State Attorneys General.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a statement, quote, a single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the executive branch. The administration has now appealed, but now it's not a single judge. Last night, this ruling came down in the second case. The judge sided with Democratic State Attorneys General.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a statement, quote, a single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the executive branch. The administration has now appealed, but now it's not a single judge. Last night, this ruling came down in the second case. The judge sided with Democratic State Attorneys General.

They put a 14-day stay in place on these mass firings. The government there had argued that the states didn't have standing and hadn't been harmed by the firings. Interestingly, though, we should say both judges said, look, we understand the government has a right to do a reduction in force, but it has to follow the law.

They put a 14-day stay in place on these mass firings. The government there had argued that the states didn't have standing and hadn't been harmed by the firings. Interestingly, though, we should say both judges said, look, we understand the government has a right to do a reduction in force, but it has to follow the law.

They put a 14-day stay in place on these mass firings. The government there had argued that the states didn't have standing and hadn't been harmed by the firings. Interestingly, though, we should say both judges said, look, we understand the government has a right to do a reduction in force, but it has to follow the law.

I mean, one thing I've been struck by is that these are not all new hires. I mean, these are probationary workers, but a lot of them have been working in an agency for 10 years, say, and they're probationary because they just got a new job that they just got promoted. I talked to an employment attorney, Michelle Berkovich, about this. She's working on another effort to reinstate workers.

I mean, one thing I've been struck by is that these are not all new hires. I mean, these are probationary workers, but a lot of them have been working in an agency for 10 years, say, and they're probationary because they just got a new job that they just got promoted. I talked to an employment attorney, Michelle Berkovich, about this. She's working on another effort to reinstate workers.

I mean, one thing I've been struck by is that these are not all new hires. I mean, these are probationary workers, but a lot of them have been working in an agency for 10 years, say, and they're probationary because they just got a new job that they just got promoted. I talked to an employment attorney, Michelle Berkovich, about this. She's working on another effort to reinstate workers.