AFGE led a coalition of nationwide labor organizations, non-profit groups, and local cities and counties in California, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Washington in suing the Trump administration over its unlawful government reorganization and massive reduction in force.
This is the largest and most significant challenge to Trump’s attempt to remake the government without congressional approval.
The case seeks a court’s intervention to stop the implementation of the President’s unlawful Executive Order 14210 (Implementing the President’s ‘‘Department of Government Efficiency’’ Workforce Optimization Initiative), which violates the Constitution’s fundamental separation of powers principles.
Trump required federal agencies to submit for approval agency Reductions in Force and Reorganization Plans on April 14.
On May Day, we also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order that would halt the unlawful reorganization of the federal workforce.
“The President does not possess authority to reorganize, downsize, or otherwise transform the agencies of the federal government, unless and until Congress authorizes such action,” said the coalition. “Since the founding of the nation, federal courts have recognized that the federal agencies are not created by the President.”
AFGE President Everett Kelley said the Trump administration’s reckless attempt to dismantle our government without congressional approval threatens vital services Americans depend on every day – from caring for veterans and safeguarding public health, to protecting our environment and maintaining national security.
“This illegal power grab would gut federal agencies, disrupt communities nationwide, and put critical public services at risk,” he said. “AFGE is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with this coalition to protect not just the patriotic public servants we represent, but the integrity of American government and the essential services that our nation deserves.”
The coalition is represented by Democracy Forward, Altshuler Berzon LLP, Protect Democracy, the Public Rights Project, and State Democracy Defenders Fund.
Besides AFGE and our four locals, the coalition includes the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and SEIU Local 1000; Alliance for Retired Americans, American Geophysical Union; American Public Health Association; Center for Taxpayer Rights; Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks; Common Defense; Main Street Alliance; NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council); Northeast Organic Farming Association Inc.; VoteVets; Western Watersheds Project; City and County of San Francisco, California; County of Santa Clara, California; City of Chicago, Illinois; City of Baltimore, Maryland; Harris County, Texas; and King County, Washington. The case, AFGE v. Trump, was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Statements from all of the plaintiffs and counsel in the case are here.
Read the complaint here.
In a major victory for AFGE and allies, a district court judge May 9 issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking President Trump’s unconstitutional reorganization of the federal government.
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House Republicans are pursuing at least $50 billion in cuts to Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) benefits to help pay for a $4.5 trillion package of tax cuts that would primarily benefit the rich and large corporations, a priority for President Trump.
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Week 16 saw Trump laying off thousands of workers at Interior and Labor and planning to let go 80,000 VA employees taking care of veterans.
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