The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Monday that it is reinstating dozens of probationary employees that the Trump administration fired last month. Why it matters: The reversal comes after a federal judge ordered the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to rescind instructions to several federal agencies to fire probationary employees.

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The National Science Foundation fired 168 workers to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order, the latest in a series of layoffs throughout the US government as the Trump administration seeks to shrink federal agencies.

Judge slams 'significant chaos' that's become Uncle Sam's standard operating procedure The US government's National Science Foundation has reinstated most of its cadre of probationary employees after laying them off en masse last month.

At an emotional meeting, NSF officials announced layoffs for about 10 percent of their workforce and warned of more firings to come

At an emotional meeting, foundation officials announced layoffs for about 10 percent of their workforce and warned of more firings to come.

Firings at the NSF included permanent employees who had already completed their one-year probationary period, as well as at-will workers.

The National Science Foundation is reinstating 84 employees who were terminated in February, the agency announced Monday. NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan told the agency’s staff Monday morning that the agency is in the process of bringing back some of its terminated employees in the wake of new guidance from the Trump administration and a court ruling issued last week.