Donald Trump’s administration may face a staggering financial burden, as experts warn that the dismissal of federal employees on questionable grounds is illegal.

Government officials have reported “poor performance” as the reason for terminating thousands of federal workers. However, many employees affected by these layoffs contest this claim, with numerous individuals seeking legal counsel.

Jacob Malcom, who recently served as the acting deputy assistant secretary for policy and environmental management at the U.S. Department of the Interior, resigned in protest over the mass termination of probationary workers.

“These actions are being framed as decisions based on ‘poor performance’ or ‘misalignment of skills,’ but neither assertion holds up,” he stated to the Guardian. “No evidence has been presented to substantiate claims of poor performance; in fact, I am aware that several individuals under my supervision were top performers.

“Furthermore, there has been a lack of evidence or analysis indicating any mismatch between skills and the organization’s needs. Some of those fired were focused on performance and efficiency, working directly on initiatives to bolster public arguments for government reform.”

The so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” overseen by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been authorized by Trump to initiate a sweeping review across federal agencies in pursuit of enhanced efficiency.

Nonetheless, labor attorney Suzanne Summerlin contended that there has been an alarming level of “fraud, waste, and abuse” as the Trump administration works to overhaul several departments and agencies.

“The unlawful firings being undertaken will likely result in hundreds of thousands of former federal employees being owed back pay, along with interest, benefits, and attorney fees,” Summerlin explained. “When the final tally comes in, it will be astronomical.”

Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the White House, responded by saying, “President Trump and his administration are fulfilling the American public’s call to eliminate unnecessary spending and enhance the efficiency of federal agencies, which includes the removal of non-critical probationary employees.”

The Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Justice did not comment on the situation when approached.

On Thursday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from various unions that sought a restraining order to halt the Trump administration’s mass firings, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction and directing the unions to file with the federal labor board instead.

Recently, numerous probationary employees among the over 220,000 federal workers in the U.S. received termination notices as part of the administration’s initiative to significantly reduce the federal workforce.

One federal employee, on the verge of completing her one-year probation period with the U.S. Forest Service, received a dismissal notice citing “poor performance.” She shared that her performance reviews had been commendable.

“I was set to become a permanent employee on March 10,” she revealed. “Now, I’ve lost my medical coverage, and given my chronic illness, I need access to medical care. I’m currently waiting for an eviction notice.”

She was also asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which she refused, fearing potential retaliation when seeking future employment. She preferred to remain anonymous due to these concerns.

“Elon Musk has effectively ruined my 19-year career. We’ve been branded as the source of government fraud and inefficiency,” she lamented. “Our careers are essentially over, and the financial ramifications are devastating. Dismantling our work is hardly a solution for the average worker.

“We’re taxpayers, too. I contribute and work diligently for my position, regardless of public perceptions of federal employees.”

The scale of these mass terminations has created turmoil within the federal government. The Trump administration has struggled to reverse the dismissals of key staff at the National Nuclear Security Administration and individuals who were addressing the bird flu crisis at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Another individual laid off from the Department of Health and Human Services echoed similar sentiments.

“This situation affects not only new hires. Many seasoned federal employees, recently promoted to supervisory positions, are also on the chopping block,” they explained. “The allegations of ‘poor performance’ in the letters received are unfounded. Many have received positive performance evaluations, and colleagues can confirm their high work standards.”

Calls for congressional intervention have intensified. “There is concern that these layoffs are politically motivated and do not adhere to standard legal reduction in force protocols,” remarked Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union. “These mass dismissals threaten vital government functions and undermine a critical check on executive power.”

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