Trump administration briefing: Judge reinstates some fired workers, more tariff threats on EU
Judge says it is a ‘lie’ that employees at federal agencies had performance issues; Trump mulls EU alcohol tariff – key US politics stories from Thursday at a glance
A federal judge in California has granted a preliminary injunction to reinstate thousands of fired probationary workers at federal agencies as part of a lawsuit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees.
The ruling by the judge William H Alsup applies to fired probationary employees at the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and the Department of the Treasury.
Many of the at least 30,000 employees were fired with the cited reason being poor performance, though workers have disputed this based on positive performance evaluations. Alsup said it was a “lie” that the probationary workers who were fired had performance issues.
Here is what else happened on Thursday:
Judge orders administration to reinstate most fired probationary staff
The judge also forbade the office of personnel management from providing any guidance to federal agencies on which employees should be terminated. Alsup authorized depositions and ordered further briefing on whether the administrative channel for fired workers to appeal their terminations is available or has been destroyed due to firings at the appeals board and office of special counsel personnel.
Tens of thousands of employees working for the federal government were as part of the efforts of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s so-called “department of government efficiency” to slash the federal workforce and government expenditures.
Greenland’s likely new prime minister rejects Trump takeover efforts
Greenland’s probable new prime minister has rejected Donald Trump’s effort to take control of the island, saying Greenlanders must be allowed to decide their own future as it moves toward independence from Denmark.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, whose centre-right Democrats won a surprise victory in this week’s legislative elections and now must form a coalition government, said, “We don’t want to be Americans. No, we don’t want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders, and we want our own independence in the future.
“And we want to build our own country by ourselves.”
S&P 500 slides into correction territory as Trump trade wars spook investors
The S&P 500, a key US stock market index, closed in correction territory on Thursday as the volatility of Donald Trump’s trade wars rattled investors.
The index closed more than 10% down from its 19 February peak as Wall Street approaches the end of a second week of pressure.
Trump asks court to allow order against birthright citizenship
Donald Trump’s administration has asked the US supreme court to allow his attempt at curtailing birthright citizenship to proceed. The justice department’s acting solicitor general, Sarah Harris, filed a request to the nation’s highest court, asking it to restrict orders issued by district judges in three states that blocked Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship restrictions.
White House pulls CDC nominee on day of hearing
The Trump administration withdrew its nomination to lead the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the day he was due to face a confirmation hearing. Dave Weldon, a 71-year-old doctor and former Republican Florida congressman, did not face a hearing as planned.
Arrests at Trump Tower protest for Mahmoud Khalil
Protesters organized by a progressive Jewish group occupied the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian Columbia University student held by US immigration authorities. About 100 were arrested, and police said protesters faced charges including trespassing, obstruction and resisting arrest.
Hegseth to overhaul US military lawyers
US defense secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to start a sweeping overhaul of the judge advocate general’s corps as part of an effort to make the US military less restricted by the laws of armed conflict, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Chuck Schumer to vote for Republican funding bill to avert shutdown
The Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, said on Thursday he would vote for a Republican-written bill to fund federal agencies through September and avert a government shutdown.
Schumer’s comments suggest that his members are prepared to provide the necessary votes to clear a procedural hurdle ahead, allowing the seven-month spending measure to advance to a final vote.
Trump mulls 200% tariff on EU wine and champagne
Donald Trump has threatened a 200% tariff on wine and champagne from European Union countries, in the latest threat of escalation in the global trade war started by the US president against the country’s biggest trading partners.
Later in the day, a key US stock market index closed in correction territory as the volatility of Donald Trump’s trade wars rattled investors.
What else happened today:
Canadians who visit the US for more than 30 days will be required to register with authorities and have their fingerprints taken as the Trump administration tightens migration rules.
A group of Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block significant cuts to the Department of Education.
The IRS could face a major staff reduction right after tax day, under a plan to be proposed by the “department of government efficiency”, CNN reports.
Pete Buttigieg ruled out a run for Michigan’s Senate seat next year, which leaves the Democratic former transportation secretary available to seek the presidency in 2028, should he choose.
Trump tariff bluster may not be pleasing Americans, a new poll finds.