Thousands of U.S. government workers are being swept out of their jobs in a broad federal downsizing effort led by President Donald Trump. For those hoping to challenge their dismissals, the path ahead is fraught with legal obstacles, lengthy delays, and bleak chances of success.
The Merit Systems Protection Board, the primary avenue for appealing federal employment disputes, has been weakened by years of political maneuvering and now faces fresh uncertainty as Trump moves to reshape its leadership. The board, which reviews firings and disciplinary actions, was left paralyzed for most of Trump’s first term and may soon be rendered ineffective again.
Many affected employees—especially those in probationary roles or on temporary contracts—may find it impractical to fight back. The appeals process is complex, costly, and can drag on for years, meaning that even those who ultimately win their cases will likely have moved on to other jobs long before a resolution is reached.
Trump’s administration has not disclosed the exact number of workers being let go, but terminations continue as part of an aggressive push to shrink the federal workforce. Agencies have been directed to collaborate with an initiative led by Elon Musk to identify positions that can be eliminated entirely.
For the nearly 70% of federal employees without union representation, the Merit Systems Protection Board remains the only formal recourse against dismissals. However, success rates are grim—of the more than 4,100 appeals heard in 2023, just 2.4% resulted in favorable rulings for employees. Legal representation improves the odds slightly, but the overall chances of reinstatement remain low.
Trump has also moved to tighten control over the board itself. The recent ousting of Cathy Harris, the board’s Democratic chair, and the impending expiration of another Democratic member’s term could leave the agency deadlocked or tilted in favor of Republican appointees. If the board loses its ability to issue rulings, cases will pile up indefinitely, echoing the backlog that accumulated during Trump’s first term.
Unionized federal employees have the option of arbitration, which is typically faster than board appeals, but the likelihood of success remains uncertain. Meanwhile, labor unions have launched legal challenges against the broader wave of terminations, though those cases face procedural hurdles that could limit their impact.
With Trump’s second term in full swing and his government overhaul in motion, fired federal employees face a stark reality: the system designed to protect them offers little refuge in the face of sweeping political change.
