The Supreme Court Denies Standing to Nonprofits in Mass Firings Case
April 8, 2025, 1:31 PM CDT
The U.S. Supreme Court has placed a hold on a federal judge’s order that aimed to reinstate approximately 16,000 terminated probationary employees. (Image from Shutterstock)
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay on April 8, preventing the enforcement of a preliminary injunction that required the federal government to rehire thousands of employees who were recently laid off. This decision arises from a legal challenge initiated by a group of nine nonprofits.
Supreme Court’s Decision on Standing
The highest court ruled that the nonprofit organizations involved in the case lacked standing, asserting that their claims were insufficient to justify the injunction imposed by Senior U.S. District Judge William H. Alsup of California’s Northern District. The Supreme Court’s decision emphasizes that the injunction was primarily focused on these nonprofits, leaving out substantial claims from other plaintiffs, including labor unions, which Alsup refrained from addressing.
This Supreme Court ruling will remain effective throughout the ongoing litigation process, casting uncertainty on the future of the rehiring order.
Dissenting Opinions
Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed their dissenting views on this matter, indicating a division in opinion among the justices.
While the implications of this ruling are still being assessed, reports indicate that another federal judge has issued a separate order that may allow many of the same probationary workers to be reinstated.
Background of the Case
The controversy began when Judge Alsup, in a ruling delivered on March 13, found that the Office of Personnel Management exceeded its authority in firing employees from various federal agencies. According to Alsup, the power to terminate these employees lies within each agency itself, not with the OPM.
His injunction had broad implications, securing the reinstatement of workers from agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the Department of the Treasury.
Next Steps for Affected Workers
The government maintains that lawsuits regarding these firings must be filed by individual employees, challenging their dismissals before the Merit Systems Protection Board rather than through collective legal actions.
This case is formally noted as Office of Personnel Management v. American Federation of Government Employees.
For further developments, stay tuned to our coverage.
