Fired by Elon Musk’s DOGE, then reinstated by a judge, thousands of federal workers are living in limbo

The employee of the IRS was a nervous ruined.

He had been worried for weeks that his work would be given as part of the next stage of President Donald Trump and Elon Mushk. The employee who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of punishment is constantly searching for Federal Workers REDDIT forum updates and glued with his colleagues with group conversation.

“I was just a mess because I knew it was quite a lot,” he said.

Therefore, when the ax finally fell, and his leader called for him to inform him that he was cut off, it almost helped. He was fired with thousands of other trial workers, what is called “Valentine’s Day Massacre“

“Was there an expectation that it will happen? I was more or less waiting for it. When I called, I was surprised, “he said.

The great interests of the government’s workforce have been sold for a number of unprecedented funds in the last two months, including the return office mandate and the proposal to resign. But some groups have been separated for termination, including expertise employees. These workers set as recent rental or long-term workers who have recently changed positions are cut into season in February when Trump’s leadership ordered federal agencies shoot almost all. In total, about 220,000 federal employees had less than the year of service, which was completed as of March 20, according to government data.

Last week two separate Court rulings Ordered the Trump’s Administration to restore this shot trial employees. But not a happy ending office, many of these workers collide with new obstacles that prevent their return from what is happening.

“Being stuck in this overwhelming and inefficient limbo-fire, it has been believed that no clarity will be made of payment or benefits,” says no housing and urban planning employee. FortuneA number of “I don’t even know if I have to look for another job or shown tomorrow to display in HUD.”

Famous shot

The shot of probationary workers immediately met legal challenges. But employees who have lived through it must argue with the daily reality of the lost salary, health benefits and dramatically changed lives.

He fired without breakdown, the IRS employee was quickly presented for unemployment, but his lawsuit was not immediately confirmed. He says that “the storm means weather”, but the last few weeks have spent new jobs without great efforts.

The termination of the HUD employee, on the other hand, immediately caused financial uncertainty, and his retired parents rose to help pay payments. As one of the chronic disease, the loss of health insurance, in particular, a lot of suffering affected.

“It was one of the worst points in my life, in my marriage, [as] The mother as a daughter, “she says. He adds that he has been at least three days when he “has left in bed.”

New purification

Temporary employees suspended last week had a break.

Judge William Alsup, USA Region Judge Judge day order Six federal agencies including the Treasury DepartmentTo be in style Restore thousands of employees who have been reduced by the management of the personnel management office, one step he has declared illegally. Other Federal Judge Maryland He is guided by 20 Democrat lawyers, calling for restore Krab federal federal workers from 18 federal agencies. The Trump administration has filed complaints in two cases.

The court’s decision to restore the trial periods in the dark few weeks was the only light for the HUD employee. “My parents were so happy. My father began to cry, “he said.

But until the last week’s court rulings were technically victory for the probationary workers, it is not as clear as the victory returns to the office on Monday morning. The court’s decisions are issued when these employees were fired, not to fire their federal agency, and many probably have a stop to stop.

While some workers have returned to their old roles, others have only been restored to put direct leave by OPM sent and watched. FortuneA number of these employees were told that “they should not report duty or do any work until further leadership.” In case of writing, both HUD and IRS staff have not received additional communication regarding the schedule when or even if they return to work.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. As of March 17, Hud was completely restored only 13 employees, and 299 were placed on administrative leave. According to the announcements The heads of the government agency were submitted to the court. HUD’s main capital officer, Lori Michalsky, wrote that immediately restore those employees “I force significant cargo in July to cause significant confusion and cause a stir for stopped workers.”

The IRS wrote in the same lawsuit that it was a resumption of 7,613 employees affected by the trial employee terminations. However, the agency also noted that if the decision of the appellate reverses to bring back these employees, they “can undergo many changes in their work status within a number of weeks.”

At present, the daily life of the IRS and HUD staff is not too much compared to before they expected to find out if they were restored. They expect their previous payments to pass through the next payment cycle, but the HUD worker has not yet had his health insurance.

While the employee of the IRS said it would be happy to recover and would be happy to return to IRS if we let him do it. But he admits that “it, of course, is not avenue that I can count on the long run.”

The HUD employee says he applied for 168 jobs and had one information interview. He thought he had chosen a stable career when he left the private sector to work for the government, but now he says he should think about the future of his family.

“I don’t want to count on this federal work. I don’t know if it will last. “

This story was originally shown Fortune.com