New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 19 other attorneys general have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully terminating thousands of probationary federal employees without providing the legally required notice to states or affected workers.
The lawsuit, filed March 7, argues that the administration violated federal law by directing agencies to conduct immediate mass layoffs—formally known as Reductions in Force (RIFs)—without giving the mandated 60 days’ notice. The lack of warning, the coalition said, has destabilized essential services and overwhelmed state systems that provide unemployment support and workforce assistance.
“These illegal mass firings of federal workers are a slap in the face to those who have spent their careers serving our country,” said James in a statement. “Thousands of workers across New York and the nation are now struggling to pay rent, put food on the table, and care for their loved ones.”
Impact on essential services in New York
In New York alone, 372 federal workers filed for unemployment in the final week of February, the attorney general’s office said. The terminations have affected staff at agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Internal Revenue Service, and the National Labor Relations Board. In Buffalo and Syracuse, more than 100 IRS workers were let go during peak tax season, while seven CDC staff assigned to New York City’s health department were also terminated.
The lawsuit claims that the terminations disproportionately impacted probationary employees—those who are newly hired, recently promoted, or newly transferred—and who are typically subject to one- or two-year evaluation periods.
Legal challenge and requested remedies
Under federal law, agencies must give at least 60 days’ written notice before laying off civil service employees through a RIF. This notice period allows states time to prepare job training programs, adjust staffing for unemployment claim processing, and mobilize other support systems.
The attorneys general are asking the court to block further layoffs without proper notice and to reinstate all employees terminated since January 20, 2025, in violation of the law.
Widespread political support
The lawsuit has drawn support from several members of New York’s congressional delegation, who framed the layoffs as both illegal and harmful to the functioning of government.
“The illegal mass firing of probationary employees is an unjust and reckless attack on the very workers who ensure our government functions,” said Rep. Dan Goldman. Rep. Joe Morelle added that the firings were “gutting the workforce of those who provide care to our veterans, retirement for our seniors, and healthcare to our communities.”
Critics of the administration’s actions also raised concerns about the long-term effects on institutional knowledge, continuity of service, and public trust in federal agencies.
The lawsuit is joined by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
