- U.S. District Judge orders OPM acting director to testify under oath about mass terminations
- Trump administration resists court mandate, facing potential sanctions and employee reinstatements
- Federal unions allege coordinated purge violating worker protections
A federal judge has escalated a constitutional clash by demanding sworn testimony from Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell regarding the abrupt termination of thousands of probationary government employees. The Thursday hearing in San Francisco could determine whether federal agencies unlawfully coordinated mass firings under the guise of performance reviews, as alleged by multiple labor unions. Legal analysts suggest this confrontation highlights growing tensions between judicial oversight and executive branch authority.
New revelations indicate OPM organized a February 13th conference call directing agency leaders to terminate employees while falsely citing performance issues, according to court filings. Judge William Alsup openly challenged Ezell's sworn denial of centralized coordination, stating: 'How could 78% of agencies simultaneously take identical aberrant action without directives?' This skepticism follows evidence showing terminations spiked 300% above historical averages post-call.
The administration faces a dilemma: comply with testimony demands risking perjury charges or defy the court and trigger automatic sanctions. If Ezell absents himself, Judge Alsup plans to nullify OPM's legal defense and potentially reinstate 12,000 affected workers. Employment attorneys note this could establish precedent limiting political interference in civil service protections under 5 U.S.C. § 3321.
This clash coincides with heightened scrutiny of the Department of Government Efficiency's controversial workforce reduction initiatives. A recent Government Accountability Office report found DGE policies contributed to a 40% rise in probationary period terminations since 2023. However, Washington D.C. case studies reveal stark disparities – while OPM headquarters saw 15% staff cuts, regional offices maintained stable employment levels, suggesting selective enforcement.
As the legal battle unfolds, federal HR experts warn of lasting damage to recruitment efforts. 'The perception of political employment purges could worsen the government's existing 25% vacancy rate in technical roles,' notes Brookings Institution analyst Maya Chen. With 65% of terminated workers holding cybersecurity or climate science positions, critics argue the cuts undermine critical infrastructure priorities.