Court rules Trump’s firing of labor board member illegal, orders reinstatement
US federal court rejects President Donald Trump’s power to fire NLRB members at will
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ISTANBUL
A federal court has ruled that US President Donald Trump’s firing of Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), was unlawful, ordering her reinstatement.
The decision marked the first time in the board's 90-year history that a president removed or tried to remove one of its sitting members.
Judge Beryl A. Howell, who presided over the case in the US District Court for Washington, DC, said Trump's attempt to remove Wilcox violated the law.
"The President does not have the authority to terminate members of the National Labor Relations Board at will," Howell wrote in her ruling.
"A President who touts an image of himself as a ‘king’ or a ‘dictator,’ perhaps as his vision of effective leadership, fundamentally misapprehends the role under Article II of the US Constitution," she said, perhaps referring to Trump writing of himself last month on social media: “LONG LIVE THE KING!”
Debate on presidential power
The case stemmed from Wilcox's removal after she was appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2023. She was the first Black woman to serve on the board. The White House defended the firing, claiming Wilcox’s removal was justified due to her "far-left" leanings, although the law does not allow for such firings. The ruling has sparked debate over the limits of presidential power.
Wilcox, who was set to serve until 2028, filed a lawsuit claiming her dismissal violated the National Labor Relations Act, which stipulates that board members can only be removed for cause, such as negligence or misconduct. Her termination left the board with only two members, rendering it unable to conduct essential business.
"I'm ready to get back to work," Wilcox said in a statement outside the courthouse following the ruling. "It's not just about me, but I’m glad to be the face of this fight."
Wilcox’s attorney, Deepak Gupta, hailed the ruling as a victory for the integrity of the labor board and its mission to protect American workers. "This decisive victory firmly rejects an extreme presidential power grab," Gupta said.
The Trump administration says it will appeal the decision. The case may ultimately reach the US Supreme Court.
