Fired Federal Tech Workers File Appeal with Merit Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2025
CONTACT:  team18fpress@gmail.com

Fired Federal Tech Workers File Appeal with Merit Board

Former GSA 18F office employees fight back to defend rule of law, hold Administration accountable, and protect other public servants.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 28, 2025) — Mehri & Skalet filed a class-action appeal with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board on behalf of former employees of the General Services Administration’s 18F office. The appeal challenges their termination by the Trump Administration, which violated the legal safeguards protecting nonpartisan civil servants.

18F, a group dedicated to making government technology work better, partnered with federal agencies to improve and modernize systems that serve millions of Americans — from the IRS free tax filing service to the Pentagon’s military voting program. This critical work came to a stop when Elon Musk declared them “deleted” and their entire team was wrongfully fired. 

A copy of the appeal is available upon request.

Richard Condit, partner at Mehri & Skalet and counsel for the appellants, issued the following statement:

 “Our firm is honored to represent these brave public servants who were wrongfully terminated as part of a sweeping, unlawful campaign by the Trump Administration to rid the government of nonpartisan civil servants and cripple many critical government agencies.

 “The Administration has made its plans for federal workers alarmingly clear, with the current OMB director saying: ‘We want to put them in trauma.’ Since January, over 121,000 federal workers have been targeted for layoff, causing widespread disruption in services and demonstrating a fundamental disregard for the rights and work of federal employees.

 “Our clients were among those caught in the unlawful rampage led by Elon Musk and DOGE. The 18F team was known for its efficient, cost-effective efforts to make government technology work for taxpayers. They were also known as a diverse team who worked hard at being inclusive and collaborative. Despite their stellar record, they were fired after DOGE infiltrated GSA and Elon Musk, who has no legal authority, declared them ‘deleted.’

 “As is occurring in courts throughout the country, we are confident that when the MSPB reviews the facts and law, the 18F team will be restored to the federal workforce.”

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