(The Center Square) – Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and 19 other Democratic state attorneys general last week asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order on several federal agencies to stop federal employees from being laid off.
The attorneys general’s requested restraining order asks federal agencies not to fire federal probationary employees without specific reasons regarding their job performance and to follow the federal government’s proper procedures when reducing staffing.
This motion also asks that these federal government agencies reinstate employees who were fired after Jan. 20 without proper cause and not following proper procedures.
Furthermore, the restraining order says the defendants’ actions likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act. This act “governs the process by which federal agencies develop and issue regulations,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Ford said these mass firings of federal employees leave Nevadans without jobs, straining the state’s resources.
“Firing these employees for no reason and on a mass scale leaves our state — and our taxpayers — on the hook. We will take care of our own, but the federal government cannot simply throw such a financial burden on the states without consideration or planning,” the attorney general said.
“These firings are unlawful, and I will take any action necessary to protect Nevadans and Nevada’s resources,” he added.
Last week, Nevada state Democratic leaders asked in a letter for Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo to fill open state government jobs with federal employees being laid off.
The Center Square reported that the letter expressed concern about President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s mass layoffs. Musk has led the Department of Government Efficiency in its efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.
Lombardo’s press office replied to the letter on X, saying these laid-off workers could apply for open state government jobs. The number of federal workers in Nevada who have been laid off is unknown.
Trump held a Cabinet meeting last week, during which he told the leaders of these federal agencies that they are in charge of staffing decisions rather than Musk.
