Climate scientists fired by Trump administration file class-action lawsuit seeking compensation

A group of scientists who were terminated from their positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) earlier this year have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging privacy violations under the Privacy Act in a unique class-action legal action seeking monetary compensation.

According to the lawsuit, the firing of hundreds of federal workers, including researchers, biologists, ecologists, meteorologists, and computer engineers, was part of a broader effort by the government to downsize the federal bureaucracy. The complaint outlines how the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) representatives, with guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), terminated around 100 NOAA employees in February, citing performance issues as the reason for dismissal. However, the lawsuit contends that these justifications were inconsistent with the employees’ actual records, which typically showed positive performance evaluations.

The lead plaintiff, ecologist Arianna Goodman, emphasized in her experience that despite her positive feedback and recent performance-based pay increase, she was terminated based on generic justifications provided by the administration. The lawsuit alleges that the government’s decision to fire probationary employees was part of a broader pattern of hostility toward federal workers, with President Trump and other officials reportedly expressing negative sentiments about the federal workforce.

The plaintiffs argue that the firings were not based on actual performance issues but rather on the administration’s disdain for federal employees, citing derogatory remarks made by officials about the integrity and efficiency of federal workers. This alleged bias against federal workers is portrayed as the motivation behind the indiscriminate terminations at NOAA and reflective of a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce.

Unlike other lawsuits filed by terminated federal workers that seek reinstatement through the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the NOAA employees are seeking damages under the Privacy Act. The complaint alleges that the government mishandled personnel records, disseminated inaccurate information about employees’ performance, and maintained false records that led to their terminations. The plaintiffs are requesting class certification, indicating that other affected employees could join the lawsuit to seek compensation for the alleged Privacy Act violations.

The lawsuit portrays the terminations at NOAA as part of a systematic campaign by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce under the guise of performance-based firings. The plaintiffs seek to hold the government accountable for privacy violations and inaccurate record-keeping that resulted in their dismissal, seeking financial compensation for the harm caused by their termination.

In taking a novel legal approach to challenge their dismissal, the former NOAA employees aim to shed light on the alleged injustice they faced and hold the administration accountable for what they perceive as wrongful actions against federal workers. The lawsuit stands as a testament to their resolve to seek justice and restitution for the consequences of their termination based on what they argue are trumped-up performance issues.’