Attorney General Anne Lopez, along with a coalition of 20 other attorneys general, has obtained a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against various federal agencies regarding the mass dismissal of federal probationary employees. This lawsuit, known as Maryland et al. v. USDA, was filed in the United States District Court for Maryland.
The preliminary injunction mandates that 20 federal agencies reinstate unlawfully terminated probationary employees residing or working in the plaintiff states during the ongoing legal proceedings. Furthermore, the ruling compels these agencies to adhere to legal procedures when implementing any future reductions in workforce.
“The granting of this injunction sends a clear message that the government must follow certain laws and regulations when it comes to firing and laying off federal employees,” said Attorney General Lopez. “The federal workers who live and work in Hawaiʻi should not be treated as disposable. These agencies and their employees provide a critical safety net through social assistance programs and through state and federal partnerships.”
Attorney General Lopez and her coalition initiated the lawsuit on March 6, 2025, claiming irreparable injury to the plaintiff states, including Hawaiʻi, due to the actions of several federal agencies. The lawsuit called for immediate relief, leading to a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge on March 14, 2025, against 18 federal agencies. The court extended this order by five days, preventing potentially severe consequences for the plaintiff states and their probationary federal employees.
The preliminary injunction continues the court's previous directive for federal agencies to halt the unlawful mass firings and reinstate affected employees. This injunction guarantees that the involved federal agencies desist from such conduct for the duration of the legal case.
Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day and Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes represent the state of Hawaiʻi in this case. Attorney General Lopez is joined by attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.