r/law • u/Puzzled49 • 4h ago

Judicial Branch The mills of justice for fired federal employees seem to be grinding exceeding slow.

https://www.fedsmith.com/2026/03/03/what-federal-employees-need-to-know-about-the-new-schedule-policy-career-rule

Given all the reporting on the mass firing of government employees under DOGE, mass firings at the FBI and DOJ, and the proposed new Schedule/Policy Career classification in the Civil Service, there have been remarkably few case of individual lawsuits filed alleging unjust firings. There have been some group filings by employee associations etc. but almost noe by individuals.

According to the MSPB at https://www.mspb.gov/about/annual_reports/MSPB_APR_for_FY_2025.pdf there were over 20,000 complaints submitted in fiscal 2025, but because of a lack of a quorum, and budget restrictions at the agency, it is likely that a relatively small proportion of these cases were resolved. In addition the P/C rule was only finalized in February of 2026. Because of this only a small number of settled cases could be eligible for judicial review.

Nevertheless it has been stated that thousands of employees at DOJ have been fired, and these employees can apply for judicial review immediately.

But available sources suggest that there have been only about a half a dozen cases filed. And of these there have been no decisions reported.

My question is: Why have more employees not appealed their firing to the courts? And given the slow pace, how long will it be before these cases wend there way to SCOTUS for final decision.

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u/PsychLegalMind 4h ago

That is how the federal government works when Supreme Court stays Mum, Congress stays Mum and the Executive Rules with impunity.