The agencies include the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior and the Treasury.

WASHINGTON ― Tens of thousands of federal government probationary workers fired in recent weeks as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping cuts to the federal workforce must be reinstated immediately,

In separate rulings, judges in Maryland and California ordered the reinstatement of probationary workers fired last month across many agencies.

Maine is joining nearly half the country in suing the Trump administration over Education Department layoffs. The department announced plans Tuesday to cut nearly half of its workforce, which is about 1,300 workers. The Education Department says the cuts are about "efficiency" and "accountability.” The layoffs take effect in 90 days.

U.S. District Judge Myong Joun sided with Colorado and seven other states that had requested a temporary restraining order.

WASHINGTON—A federal judge blocked most of a White House executive order punishing Perkins Coie, saying the administration had put itself at odds with the First Amendment by targeting the law firm based on President Trump’s dislike of its clients’ political positions.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily halt some of the penalties it levied on a law firm linked to Democratic causes that are unpopular with the president. Last week, Trump signed an executive order deeming the firm a national security risk.