The US government's cybersecurity agency is scrambling to contact more than 130 former employees after a federal court ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate workers it "unlawfully" fired. The ruling, handed down by US District Judge James Bredar, affects federal probationary employees, including those who were hired or promoted within the past three years.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which oversees the country's cybersecurity infrastructure, fired 130 probationary employees in February as part of the Trump administration's broader effort to reduce the federal workforce. The agency is now seeking to contact the since-fired employees, but admits it doesn't have contact information for all of them or may not be aware of all the staffers who were affected by the cuts.

A message on CISA's website urges fired employees who believe they fall under the court's order to reach out to the agency. To facilitate the rehiring process, CISA is asking affected former staffers to email a password-protected attachment containing their full name, dates of employment, and one other identifying factor such as date of birth or social security number. The agency is also reportedly asking for the password to be sent by email to the same mailbox, although a CISA spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.

According to CISA, re-hired employees will be immediately placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits. The agency's efforts to rehire the fired employees come as it faces further cuts, with sources telling TechCrunch that around a hundred individuals, including those who worked on CISA's red teams, were affected by layoffs in late February and early March.

The court ruling and subsequent rehiring efforts have significant implications for the country's cybersecurity infrastructure. The loss of experienced cybersecurity professionals can have a devastating impact on the agency's ability to respond to emerging threats and protect the nation's critical infrastructure. The rehiring of these employees is a crucial step in restoring the agency's capabilities and ensuring the country's cybersecurity posture.

The incident also raises questions about the Trump administration's approach to managing the federal workforce. The administration's efforts to slash the federal workforce have been met with criticism from lawmakers and federal employee unions, who argue that the cuts will have a disproportionate impact on key government agencies and programs.

As the US government continues to grapple with the challenges of cybersecurity, the rehiring of these employees is a welcome development. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the need for a more thoughtful and strategic approach to managing the federal workforce, one that prioritizes the needs of key government agencies and programs.