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Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will They Won't They? US Government Hits Pause On Sale Of Federal Offices As Opponents Call Firings 'An Assault On The Rule Of Law'
Not so fast. The mass sale of US federal buildings appears to have stalled for the time being. The Wall Street Journal reported that 443 buildings, representing nearly 80 million square feet, listed for sale have been suddenly removed from the General Services Administration website. Hours after releasing its initial list on March 4, the GSA trimmed that number to 330. The following day, all listed properties were removed from the website. A statement appeared in its place, saying the GSA was 'identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties, for disposal. Selling ensures that taxpayer dollars are no longer spent on vacant or underutilized federal spaces. Disposing of these assets helps eliminate costly maintenance and allows us to reinvest in high-quality work environments that support agency missions.' Don't Miss: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they're on pace — Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — . The proposed building sales coincided with the mass firings of federal workers, which Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, called "an assault on the rule of law." Molvar was one of the plaintiffs in a case brought before federal judge William Alsup in San Francisco, who ordered President Donald Trump's administration to rehire thousands of fired workers. The initial list of properties for sale included the J. Edgar Hoover Building, which serves as the FBI headquarters, the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, the Old Post Office building, the location of Trump's former hotel, and the American Red Cross headquarters. The headquarters of numerous agencies, including the Departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development, were also on the list. Buildings named after civil rights icons, such as Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and Rosa Parks in Detroit, were also included. The Montgomery, Alabama, bus station that was pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement and now serves as the Freedom Rides Museum was also among the threatened buildings. News of the sale and retreat caused widespread criticism and confusion. Trending: 'How can an agency know how much space they require when they don't know how many employees they will have?" Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) asked in a congressional hearing. 'These actions are reckless and potentially very costly for taxpayers.' The GSA said in a statement to NPR: 'Since publishing the initial list on March 4, 2025, we have received an overwhelming amount of interest. We anticipate the list will be republished in the near future after we evaluate this initial input and determine how we can make it easier for stakeholders to understand the nuances of the assets listed.'Although the GSA was in the process of disposing of many federal buildings in need of an upgrade before President Trump came to power, the new administration's accelerated timeline and expanded list has caused alarm in commercial real estate circles, particularly in DC where more than 150 buildings were slated for sale. Michelle Bercovici, an employment attorney who has been petitioning a government oversight agency to hire back thousands of federal workers, told NPR: 'It's just is not a case where you have Congress saying, 'Hey, agency, we are slashing your budget by 50% because you don't need these personnel, you're not doing these functions,'' Bercovici said. 'I don't know if there's any rhyme or reason, and that's really unusual. Agencies have statutory functions they have to carry out, and agencies also do have reporting obligations to Congress.' Read Next:The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —? UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Will They Won't They? US Government Hits Pause On Sale Of Federal Offices As Opponents Call Firings 'An Assault On The Rule Of Law' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Boston Globe
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Judge orders Trump to rehire probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies
Advertisement The temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions and organizations as the Republican administration moves to dramatically downsize the federal workforce. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'These mass-firings of federal workers were not just an attack on government agencies and their ability to function, they were also a direct assault on public lands, wildlife, and the rule of law,' said Erik Molvar, executive director of Western Watersheds Project, one of the plaintiffs. The White House did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Assistant US Attorney Michelle Lo declined to comment. Alsup expressed frustration with what he called the government's attempt to sidestep laws and regulations governing a reduction in its workforce — which it is allowed to do — by firing probationary workers who lack protections and cannot appeal. He was appalled that employees were fired for poor performance despite receiving glowing evaluations just months earlier. 'It is sad, a sad day, when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie,' he said. 'That should not have been done in our country.' Lawyers for the government maintain the mass firings were lawful because individual agencies reviewed and determined whether employees on probation were fit for continued employment. But Alsup, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, has found that difficult to believe. He planned to hold an evidentiary hearing Thursday, but Ezell, the OPM acting director, did not appear to testify in court or even sit for a deposition, and the government withdrew his declaration. Advertisement Alsup encouraged the government to appeal. The case is among multiple lawsuits challenging the mass firings. Another judge in Maryland also appeared skeptical of the Trump administration in a Wednesday hearing held in a lawsuit brought by nearly two dozen states. A judge in the nation's capital, on the other hand, ruled against unions last month, finding the fired workers needed to work through a process set out in employment law. There are an estimated 200,000 probationary workers across federal agencies. They include entry level employees but also workers who recently received a promotion. About 15,000 are employed in California, providing services ranging from fire prevention to veterans' care, according to the lawsuit filed by the coalition of labor unions and nonprofit organizations that represent parks, veterans and small businesses. The plaintiffs said in their complaint that numerous agencies informed workers that the personnel office had ordered the terminations, with an order to use a template email informing workers their firing was for performance reasons.
