24,000 Fired Federal Probationary Employees Reinstated, Including 1700+ From The VA
The Trump administration is reinstating over 24,000 federal probationary employees who were let go as part of an effort to downsize the government. The employees who were originally terminated were probationary staff with less than one year of service in federal agencies. This decision follows a federal judge’s recent order, forcing the administration to reverse course.
It is important to clarify that while these individuals have been reinstated, they have been placed on full administrative leave. At this time, they have not resumed their previous positions.
Approximately 1,000 probationary employees were originally terminated from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - around 1,700 have been reported as reinstated. However, reports vary on the total number of affected workers. Some sources suggest that nearly 8,000 employees from both the VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) were impacted, though this figure combines both departments.
Court documents filed on March 18, 2025, reveal the full scope of these layoffs across 18 federal agencies. The administration had been hesitant to share specifics until now, but under the temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge James Bredar, a detailed accounting was required.
Most of those impacted were probationary employees—workers with less than a year on the job, though in some cases, up to two years. While there’s no official breakdown of job titles, it’s likely that a significant number of medical professionals, including nurses and doctors, were affected.
Here’s what we do know based on agency data:
- The VA reinstated about 1,700 employees.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) restored more than 3,200 jobs.
- The combined VA and DoD reinstatements involve nearly 8,000 people, and both agencies employ a large number of healthcare staff, including bedside nurses, advanced practice providers, and medical technicians.
Without a full breakdown of reinstated roles, it’s unclear exactly how many nurses and other frontline workers are back on the job. But with both the VA and HHS involved, it’s safe to assume the ripple effect is reaching hospitals, clinics, and care facilities across the federal system.
This mass reinstatement raises bigger questions: How did these layoffs impact patient care? Were critical staffing shortages worsened during the cuts? And what’s next for federal employees in essential roles?
One thing is certain—nurses and medical teams working in federal healthcare settings are paying close attention. As more information unfolds, frontline staff will be watching to see how these reinstatements shape patient care and workplace conditions.
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