PHOENIX, AZ – Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against several federal agencies for conducting mass firings of federal probationary employees, arguing that the terminations violate federal law and place an undue burden on states.
Legal Challenge Against Mass Firings
Attorney General Mayes and her coalition claim that the mass layoffs of probationary federal employees will:
- Increase financial burdens on states that must provide unemployment benefits and services.
- Disrupt critical state-federal partnerships in areas like veteran support, education, and community programs.
- Violate federal Reduction in Force (RIF) regulations, which require protections for military veterans and 60 days’ advance notice to states when large-scale layoffs occur.
“These mass firings aren’t about performance—they’re about politics and ideology,” said Attorney General Mayes. “The Trump administration’s reckless and illegal actions are disrupting families, harming communities, and putting Arizona’s economy at risk. We won’t stand by while these unlawful terminations undermine critical services.”
Unlawful Mass Terminations
- The Trump administration ordered thousands of probationary federal employees to be fired as part of an effort to reduce the size of the federal government.
- Federal agencies issued termination letters citing performance issues, but the lawsuit argues that these mass firings were politically motivated and not based on individual employee conduct.
- Since these layoffs affect 50 or more employees, agencies were legally required to provide at least 60 days’ noticeto state governments—which they failed to do.
What the Lawsuit Seeks
The coalition of attorneys general is asking the court to:
✅ Rule that the mass firings were illegal
✅ Reinstate unlawfully terminated employees
✅ Block further unjust terminations
✅ Ensure affected employees are identified
Attorney General Mayes is joined in the lawsuit by the attorneys general of Maryland, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
This legal action underscores growing state opposition to the Trump administration’s handling of federal employment and labor rights.
