The U.S. Department of Labor has revived about 120 employees who were facing fire as part of a recent Trump administration mass shooting of workers, the union said Friday.
The U.S. Government Employee Federation, the federal government's largest employee union, said probation employees will soon recover and the department has issued a letter on Monday telling them to report to their duties.
“We understand that this decision has impacted around 120 employees, most of which were placed on administrative leave,” union spokesman Tim Kaufman said in a statement.
A letter to one employee reviewed by Reuters advised the department to “use the remaining period of your probationary period to determine whether the appointment is in the best interests of the public.”
The Labor Bureau and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Labor Bureau employees were revived the day after President Donald Trump told cabinet members that he had the final say on staffing and policies for their agencies, not Elon Musk.
Musk and his team of government efficiency are entrusted by Trump to reduce the size and costs of federal officials.
Approximately 25,000 workers have been fired so far, and another 75,000 have made acquisitions of 2.3 million federal private workers.
But Trump on Thursday said “it's very important to cut levels,” but said agents should use “female” rather than “hatchet” to cut jobs.
A day ago, the Merit Systems Protection Commission ordered the USDA to temporarily recover nearly 6,000 probation employees.
The board hears the complaint when a federal employee is fired or disciplined.
Probation workers usually provide services for less than a year in their current role, but are long-time federal workers.
Sky Perryman, who is challenging the firing of liberal legal group Democrat Forward, welcomed the Department of Labor's decision on Friday to reverse courses on probation employees.
“All other agencies should follow their lead and return these workers to work immediately,” she said in a statement.
