Getting paid not to work: Federal probationary workers are being reinstated but put on paid leave
Source: CNN Politics
Updated 10:44 PM EDT, Mon March 17, 2025
CNN Days after a Maryland federal judge ruled that terminated probationary workers must be temporarily reinstated, multiple federal agencies have told their staffers that they are complying with the decision but placing the employees on paid administrative leave.
Workers at the Internal Revenue Service, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Food and Drug Administration, among other agencies, received emails that said they are being reinstated and placed on administrative leave essentially being paid not to work.
Separately, at least one US Department of Agriculture probationary employee who was terminated received notice late last week that they would be reinstated and placed on paid administrative leave initially. The agency told staffers it is developing a phased plan to return them to duty. This action stems from an earlier order by the Merit Systems Protection Board, which said that nearly 6,000 probationary workers who lost their jobs in mid-February had to be reinstated for at least 45 days.
At the Federal Aviation Administration, workers were informed that they would be put on administrative leave through Wednesday and their supervisors would reach out about resuming their duties. They will receive back pay, and the termination will be removed from the personnel record.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/17/politics/federal-probationary-workers-laid-off-reinstated/index.html

Lovie777
(18,030 posts)travelingthrulife
(2,084 posts)Every dime spent on this foolishness should come directly out of his pockets.
Walleye
(39,645 posts)We are being screwed doggy style
IronLionZion
(48,533 posts)

gab13by13
(27,752 posts)What DOGE is doing is no mistake, and the Timid 10 just gave them more power.
gab13by13
(27,752 posts)and paid them for the rest of the year, I believe they paid them from the SS trust fund money.
Deminpenn
(16,740 posts)More seriously, this reinstatement shows they are not completely lawless and at least some people in the Trump WH do not want to risk jail time.
This all could have been done legally if Russell Vought had come to OPM with a detailed plan for RIFs. It's not like they didn't have months to plan and through the transition. RIF authorization could have been wrapped into the CR since Rs control the House and Senate. But arrogant and stupid doesn't usually equal success.
turbinetree
(26,028 posts)what a shit show.............
erpowers
(9,419 posts)So much for government efficiency. I do not think it is efficient to pay people not to work.
louis-t
(24,251 posts)It is the work that they do that is so horrifying to the radical right.