The battle of the courts has begun. It’s total chaos in the judicial system right now.
And now a top attorney has slapped a federal judge with a reality check for this insane Trump ruling.
Top U.S. Lawyer & Professor Harshly Criticizes Judge For Ruling On Trump Admin
In a recent development, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley has criticized a federal judge’s ruling on the Trump administration’s review of probationary workers. Speaking on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Turley expressed his disagreement with U.S. District Judge William Alsup’s decision, calling it “quite a reach”.
Judge Alsup ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must rescind its directives to initiate firings of federal probationary workers. The judge stated that the office lacks “authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire and fire employees at another agency”.
Turley, however, argued that the judge’s interpretation might be too narrow. He explained, “I think that’s quite a reach for this judge, because the office was not firing these workers. It was directing agencies to look at these workers and fire them according to guidelines. They are part of a unitary department, an executive branch that is headed by a president who has said that he wants this to happen”.
The law professor further emphasized the president’s authority to manage the executive branch, including the ability to reduce its size. He stated, “The president of the United States is allowed to run the executive branch, including running it with fewer people than his predecessor”.
The controversy stems from a memo sent by OPM’s Acting Director Charles Ezell on January 20, which provided updated guidelines to agencies regarding “critical potential personnel actions.” The memo focused on probationary periods and administrative leave, describing probationary periods as an “essential tool” for assessing employee performance and managing staffing levels.
Ezell’s memo also outlined four scenarios where paid administrative leave would be appropriate, including mission-related absences, agency-sponsored activities, professional development opportunities, and absences in the interest of the agency or government. The OPM directive required agencies to identify employees on probationary periods by January 24 and determine whether these employees should be retained. This action prompted labor unions to file a lawsuit, alleging that OPM had unlawfully ordered agencies to carry out firings.
While a California federal judge temporarily blocked OPM’s directives, the Department of Defense is still expected to lay off approximately 5,400 probationary workers, according to a statement released on February 21.
The case continues to develop, with a written order expected to be released and another court hearing scheduled for March 13. As this legal battle unfolds, it highlights the ongoing tension between executive authority and judicial oversight in matters of federal employment.
Turley’s Unbiased Politics Frustrates Trump Critics
Turley has continued to maintain his status as one of the leading experts on constitutional law, regularly appearing before Congress to discuss issues as a guest of both Democrats and Republicans. His unbiased approach to the law seriously frustrates those on the Left who are only out to get in the way of Donald Trump at all costs, no matter what.
The law professor has criticized the Trump administration for what he would consider an “unfair” prosecution of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for hosting a webinar on immigration in which she seemingly tried to help illegal immigrants hide from federal and state level authorities who would be seeking to deport them. For Turley, this was a matter of free speech, saying that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did not actually aid any immigrants in hiding from authorities.
Regardless of what one things about that situation in particular, it proves that Turley is often unbiased when it comes to his expert profession. He is a great ally for the Trump administration because of his strong character and the status he’s earned as a top legal mind in America today.
The Federalist Wire will keep you updated on any major legal updates that come from the Trump administration.
