Fired federal tech staffers file retaliation claim to a panel whose chairwoman Trump also fired
May 28, 2025, 2:59 PM
Elon Musk flashes his t-shirt that reads "DOGE" to the media as he walks on South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Sunday, March 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� A group of roughly 80 fired federal employees on Wednesday appealed their terminations to an administrative body in charge of protecting the rights of federal employees from partisan political practices. Notably, that board’s chairwoman was also recently fired by President Donald Trump.
The 18F employees, who worked on technology projects such as the IRS鈥� Direct File, filed an appeal at the Merit Systems Protection Board against the General Services Administration and Elon Musk鈥檚 Department of Government Efficiency.
They claim they were identified in February for a reduction-in-force because of their 鈥減erceived political affiliations or beliefs,鈥� as well as 鈥減rotected speech and actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actions to resist and blow the whistle on management鈥檚 improper handling and transition of control concerning sensitive data and systems.鈥�
In February, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk posted on his social media site that he had 鈥渄eleted鈥� 18F. Musk was responding to a post by an X user who called 18F 鈥渇ar left鈥� and mused that Direct File 鈥減uts the government in charge鈥� of preparing people鈥檚 taxes. 鈥淭hat group has been deleted,鈥� Musk wrote.
The appeal documents state that the employees were removed from federal service 鈥渢hrough a purported RIF because they were perceived to be left-wing, radical, or affiliated with DEI activities,” which “abuses the laws and regulations governing RIFs to punish perceived political opponents and to coerce conformity with their values and political positions, and violates federal civil rights statutes.鈥�
One of the MSPB鈥檚 primary functions is to protect federal workers against partisan politics and other prohibited personnel practices by adjudicating employee appeals, according to the board’s website.
The workers’ complaint comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to fire the head of the board, Cathy Harris, while a lawsuit plays out.
According to the MSPB website, as of April 9, is the sole serving board member, and the board is currently without a quorum to vote on petitions for review.
A White House official did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
