Nina Totenberg

And yesterday, the court threw out a lower court order that barred the administration from firing 16,000 probationary employees. The court said that the plaintiffs in the case were not the employees themselves, but nonprofit groups who failed to show that they themselves would be hurt by the firings.

It means the fired employee has to be on the job for a year or less, or in some cases more, time that includes people who are serving in a job that they were promoted to, for instance.

It means the fired employee has to be on the job for a year or less, or in some cases more, time that includes people who are serving in a job that they were promoted to, for instance.

It means the fired employee has to be on the job for a year or less, or in some cases more, time that includes people who are serving in a job that they were promoted to, for instance.

Yes, but it's going to take time, and therein lies the rub. The employees have to first challenge their firings at the Merit Systems Protection Board, which is the federal agency charged with protecting civil servants. And for the most part, the most efficient way to do that is systematically with a class action that says, essentially, we are representing all of these citizens.

Yes, but it's going to take time, and therein lies the rub. The employees have to first challenge their firings at the Merit Systems Protection Board, which is the federal agency charged with protecting civil servants. And for the most part, the most efficient way to do that is systematically with a class action that says, essentially, we are representing all of these citizens.

Yes, but it's going to take time, and therein lies the rub. The employees have to first challenge their firings at the Merit Systems Protection Board, which is the federal agency charged with protecting civil servants. And for the most part, the most efficient way to do that is systematically with a class action that says, essentially, we are representing all of these citizens.

Similarly situated fired employees, and we as a class should be reinstated. But in order to be certified as a class, they have to go before an administrative judge at the Merit Systems Protection Board. And so far, there have been more than 10,000 cases filed since October, including 20 class action suits. And I would presume that when the dust settles, there will be lots more class actions.

Similarly situated fired employees, and we as a class should be reinstated. But in order to be certified as a class, they have to go before an administrative judge at the Merit Systems Protection Board. And so far, there have been more than 10,000 cases filed since October, including 20 class action suits. And I would presume that when the dust settles, there will be lots more class actions.

Similarly situated fired employees, and we as a class should be reinstated. But in order to be certified as a class, they have to go before an administrative judge at the Merit Systems Protection Board. And so far, there have been more than 10,000 cases filed since October, including 20 class action suits. And I would presume that when the dust settles, there will be lots more class actions.

A lot of suits. Can the Merit System Protection Board actually act quickly? The MSPB system is meant to be fast, with cases finalized in 120 days, and the judges' decisions become final in 35 days unless there's some intervening action by the Merit Systems Protection Board. Initially, any appeal would be taken by the MSPB board, but the agency didn't even have a quorum until two days ago,

A lot of suits. Can the Merit System Protection Board actually act quickly? The MSPB system is meant to be fast, with cases finalized in 120 days, and the judges' decisions become final in 35 days unless there's some intervening action by the Merit Systems Protection Board. Initially, any appeal would be taken by the MSPB board, but the agency didn't even have a quorum until two days ago,

A lot of suits. Can the Merit System Protection Board actually act quickly? The MSPB system is meant to be fast, with cases finalized in 120 days, and the judges' decisions become final in 35 days unless there's some intervening action by the Merit Systems Protection Board. Initially, any appeal would be taken by the MSPB board, but the agency didn't even have a quorum until two days ago,

And the two board members there for the moment might well cancel each other's votes out. And in any event, the law allows a relatively quick appeal to the Court of Appeals for the federal circuit. And in that setting, for sure, there will be thousands of employees who do have legal standing to sue and have been harmed. NPR's Nina Totenberg. Thank you, Nina. Thank you.

And the two board members there for the moment might well cancel each other's votes out. And in any event, the law allows a relatively quick appeal to the Court of Appeals for the federal circuit. And in that setting, for sure, there will be thousands of employees who do have legal standing to sue and have been harmed. NPR's Nina Totenberg. Thank you, Nina. Thank you.

And the two board members there for the moment might well cancel each other's votes out. And in any event, the law allows a relatively quick appeal to the Court of Appeals for the federal circuit. And in that setting, for sure, there will be thousands of employees who do have legal standing to sue and have been harmed. NPR's Nina Totenberg. Thank you, Nina. Thank you.

The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to block a lower court order that required the government to essentially pay its bills, in this case, pay foreign aid contractors for their already completed work.

The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to block a lower court order that required the government to essentially pay its bills, in this case, pay foreign aid contractors for their already completed work.

But today, the court majority refused to interfere, telling the lower court only to clarify the government's obligations and to ensure compliance with due regard to for the feasibility of complying with timelines. In dissent, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that he was, quote, stunned at the court's rewarding what he called an active judicial hubris. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

But today, the court majority refused to interfere, telling the lower court only to clarify the government's obligations and to ensure compliance with due regard to for the feasibility of complying with timelines. In dissent, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that he was, quote, stunned at the court's rewarding what he called an active judicial hubris. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.