By Blessing Nweke
A federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate 19 intelligence officers who were dismissed after serving in temporary diversity-related assignments, ruling that the agencies failed to respect the employees’ constitutional right to due process.
In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel found that the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not follow their own employment regulations when terminating the career intelligence officers. The court said the agencies were required to consider the employees for reassignment and allow them to appeal their dismissals before ending their employment.
The officers argued that their firings were arbitrary and unsupported by evidence. They maintained they were simply carrying out assignments directed by a previous administration and should have been transferred to other positions rather than dismissed.
Government attorneys defended the terminations, arguing that CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte had broad authority to remove intelligence personnel with or without cause.
Kevin Carroll, the attorney representing the officers, praised the court’s decision, saying it affirmed that intelligence employees are entitled to due process protections. He urged Ratcliffe and Pulte to return the officers to work, describing them as dedicated public servants.
In its ruling, the appeals court said the central issue was whether agency regulations guaranteed employees the right to be considered for reassignment and to challenge termination decisions. The judges concluded that those protections exist and must be honored.
It remains uncertain when the affected intelligence officers will be reinstated or assigned new duties. The Trump administration is expected to seek further review of the decision, potentially appealing the ruling. Neither the CIA nor the Office of the Director of National Intelligence immediately commented on the court’s decision.
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