Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is taking a stand against the Trump administration, leading a major lawsuit alongside 19 other states. The issue? Trump’s mass firing of probationary federal workers — thousands of them, including military veterans — which Brown calls “unlawful” and devastating for hardworking families.
The lawsuit, filed in Maryland’s U.S. District Court, argues that these firings threw people’s lives into chaos without following proper legal procedures. The workers were let go without the 60-day written notice required by federal law, and more than 800 of those fired live in Maryland. Many have already applied for state unemployment benefits.
The cuts have hit several agencies hard. Nearly 2,000 jobs were slashed from the Department of Energy, over 2,400 from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and dozens more from the Department of Education and General Services Administration. These terminations began right after Trump was sworn in for his second term, following an executive order for a hiring freeze and workforce reduction.
Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore is backing the lawsuit, calling the state’s federal workforce “dedicated patriots” who provide essential services. He says their loss would be a massive blow to Maryland, especially during its worst financial crisis in 20 years.
On the same day, Brown joined another lawsuit filed in Massachusetts by eight states, pushing back against the Department of Education’s sudden suspension of $600 million in grants used to train teachers and staff underserved schools. Brown has been a vocal opponent of many Trump policies, participating in over two dozen legal challenges since Trump’s second inauguration.
In addition to these lawsuits, Brown has co-led efforts to block executive orders that impact transgender rights, arguing they cause harm and disrupt medical care across the country. His latest legal action aims to protect workers, restore their jobs, and prevent any more sudden and unjust terminations.
As this legal battle unfolds, many eyes are on Maryland and the fight to defend federal employees and their families from what Brown calls an attack on civil service and workers’ rights.
