Legal Action

Former federal civil servants bring this action, challenging the U.S. Office of Special Counsel’s (OSC) abrupt refusal to investigate the unlawful mass terminations of probationary federal employees. Plaintiffs allege that the “Probationary Directive” was arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law because OSC failed to provide a reasoned explanation for its reversal, ignored reliance interests, and abdicated its statutory duty to investigate prohibited personnel practices under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. They further contend that OSC’s actions reflect unlawful political interference in an agency that Congress designed to function independently to safeguard the merit-based civil service. Plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief setting aside the “Probationary Directive,” reinstating their complaints, and compelling OSC to fulfill its statutory mandate to protect federal employees from prohibited personnel practices.