NSF begins reinstating probationary employees

Following California District Judge Willian Alsup’s Friday ruling that the Office of Personnel Management doesn’t have the authority to order the mass terminations of federal employees across different agencies, the National Science Foundation said it will be reinstating certain probationary employees.

In a statement sent to Nextgov/FCW, NSF spokesperson Mike England confirmed that the agency received guidance last week from OPM allowing agencies to retain probationary employees who identify as disabled, veterans or military spouses.

“We started the process to reinstate those impacted probationary employees right away,” England confirmed. “Every NSF employee makes important contributions to the NSF mission and the national science, engineering, and technology enterprise everyday. NSF welcomes the return of our probationary employees who will help ensure the United States remains the global leader in scientific discovery and innovation.”

England clarified that, of the 170 NSF staff terminated on Feb. 18, 86 were classified as probationary employees and 84 were classified as experts contracted by NSF on short-term bases. No experts are currently being reinstated as part of the federal court’s ruling. 

Currently, 84 probationary employees are being reinstated, though the agency could not comment on the remaining two classified as probationary.

NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan ordered that reinstated employees receive backpay and no break in service following the updated OPM mandate.