The Sconi

Attorney General Josh Kaul has announced that a federal judge in the United States District Court for Maryland has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against 18 federal agencies. The court order mandates these agencies to halt the mass layoffs of federal probationary employees and reinstate those who were dismissed by Monday, March 17, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

In his statement, AG Kaul remarked, "Once again, a court has had to step in to stop lawless action from President Trump. With this ruling, his unlawful mass firings have temporarily been reversed and the disruption to the services these employees provide will be limited. We will continue working to ensure that the law is upheld."

The TRO was granted following AG Kaul's collaboration with a coalition of 20 attorneys general on March 6, 2025. They sued several federal agencies citing irreparable harm caused to Wisconsin and other plaintiff states by the terminations. The court order affects numerous departments including:

- Department of Agriculture

- Department of Commerce

- Department of Education

- Department of Energy

- Department of Health and Human Services

- Department of Homeland Security

- Department of Housing and Urban Development

- Department of Interior

- Department of Labor

- Department of Transportation

- Department of Treasury

- Department of Veterans Affairs

- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

- Environmental Protection Agency

- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

- General Services Administration

- Small Business Administration

- United States Agency for International Development

AG Kaul joined forces with attorneys general from Maryland, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.