SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge in San Francisco on Thursday found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful, granting temporary relief to a coalition of labor unions and organizations that has sued to stop the Trump administration’s massive dismantling of the federal workforce.

A federal judge in California ordered the retraction of the memos. He suggested, but did not order, that the layoffs be stopped.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Federal workers are rushing to a little-known and understaffed office to try to save their jobs from President Donald Trump’s mass government layoffs, in hopes that it will be a bulwark against the president and Elon Musk as they push for more cuts.

Federal employees are finding openings to overturn Trump administration terminations after a judge questioned the legality of the government’s firing memos and an independent board ordered some agencies to temporarily reinstate several workers.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from mass firing of probationary federal employees.

A federal judge in San Francisco on Thursday found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful, granting some temporary relief to a coalition of labor unions and organizations that has sued to stop the Trump administration’s massive trimming of the federal workforce.

A judge ruled the OPM cannot directly fire federal workers at other agencies and that they have to rescind their mass firing memo. Former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade and Yale Law School Professor Natasha Sarin join José Díaz-Balart to discuss.