WASHINGTON, D.C. — In compliance with an order from the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will reinstate 5,692 probationary employees that were terminated last month for at least 45 days.
The USDA released the following statement regarding the status of the probationary employees.
“On Wednesday, March 5, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a 45-day stay on the termination of U.S. Department of Agriculture probationary employees,” read the statement. “By Wednesday, March 12, the department will place all terminated probationary employees in pay status and provide each with back pay from the date of termination. The department will work quickly to develop a phased plan for return-to-duty, and while those plans materialize, all probationary employees will be paid.”
The February firings were part of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut the size of the federal workforce.
The stay, ordered by U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board member Cathy Harris, is in effect until April 18 while the board continues to investigate the terminations.
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