SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A U.S. district judge in San Francisco on Friday ordered the Trump administration to provide probationary workers fired en masse a written statement saying they were not terminated for performance reasons, but as part of a government-wide termination.
Judge William Alsup is overseeing a lawsuit brought by labor unions and nonprofits contesting the mass firings of thousands of probationary workers in February under Republican President Donald Trump.
In March, Alsup ordered six federal agencies to reinstate probationary workers because their terminations were directed by the Office of Personnel Management, which did not have the authority to fire workers at any other agency but its own.
The U.S. Supreme Court last week blocked Alsup’s order requiring the administration to return those terminated employees to work, but did not decide whether the firings were unlawful.
Alsup was particularly upset that the firings of probationary workers — many young and early in their careers — followed an OPM template stating that the person had been fired for poor performance.
“Termination under the false pretense of performance is an injury that will persist for the working life of each civil servant,” wrote Alsup in Friday's order. “The stain created by OPM’s pretense will follow each employee through their careers and will limit their professional opportunities.”
The administration has defined performance to account for job indispensability as Trump seeks to drastically reduce the federal workforce.
Lawyers for the administration also say that OPM did not order the firings, but Alsup found it was impossible for federal agencies to assess each worker's performance in only a matter of days.
In Friday's order, Alsup said the fired workers must receive the written statements by May 8. If a worker was fired after an individualized evaluation of that employee’s performance or fitness, the agency must submit by May 8 “a declaration, under oath and seal, stating so and providing the individual reasoning underpinning that termination.”
A federal judge in Maryland overseeing a similar complaint brought by 19 states found the administration did not follow laws set out for large-scale layoffs, including 60 days’ advance notice.
A preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge James Bredar ordering reinstatement of the workers was overturned last week by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Demonstrators hold up banners during a 'Hands Off!' protest against President Donald Trump at the Washington Monument in Washington, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Demonstrators hold up signs during a "Hands Off!" protest against President Donald Trump at the Washington Monument in Washington, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
MADRID (AP) — With the help of painkillers, Casper Ruud overcame a rib ailment to defeat Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets and reach the Madrid Open final on Friday.
Ruud will face Jack Draper, who beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the other semifinal to make his third final of the year.
Ruud received treatment on his rib three games into the match and went on to win 6-4, 7-5 on the Caja Magica center court.
The 15th-ranked Norwegian saved 15 of the 18 break points he faced against the 21st-ranked Argentine.
Ruud said he felt something in his rib during the warmup, just before going out on the court. He said he “felt it in nearly every shot, especially the serve.”
“I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish the match, honestly,” Ruud said. “I got a couple of painkillers, which is not the ideal thing, but at the same time in a situation like this, you have to do that now and then. It was easing and getting better as the match went on.”
A former world No. 2, Ruud will return to the top 10 thanks to his campaign in Madrid. He could reach No. 6 in the rankings with a win in the final.
Ruud — a 12-time tour champion — would also become the first Norwegian to lift an ATP 1000 trophy since the series was introduced in 1990, according to the ATP.
Ruud had lost two matches in a row against Cerundolo, who knocked out top-seeded Alexander Zverev earlier.
The sixth-ranked Draper improved his record against 11th-ranked Musetti to 4-0.
Draper won at Indian Wells in March. After his quarterfinal victory in Madrid, he secured a top-five debut in the rankings.
“I felt like both of us, our quality didn’t really drop from the first ball,” Draper said. “Credit to Lorenzo, he’s obviously playing so good on the clay. I played him on hard, and on grass when we were juniors, growing up with him. But on clay, he’s a different beast, so to get this win on this court in this stage, semifinals, it means so much to me.”
Coco Gauff and top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will meet in the women's final on Saturday.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Casper Ruud of Norway celebrates after winning against Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Casper Ruud of Norway serves against Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina returns the ball against Casper Ruud of Norway during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Casper Ruud of Norway returns the ball against Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Casper Ruud of Norway celebrates after winning against Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Casper Ruud of Norway returns the ball against Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Casper Ruud of Norway returns the ball against Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Casper Ruud of Norway returns the ball against Francisco Cerundolo from Argentina during men's semifinal at the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
