WASHINGTON – In an unprecedented move, former President Donald Trump has removed Gwynne Wilcox, a Democratic member of the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and its general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, both appointees of President Joe Biden. The action, taken late Monday, has ignited a legal battle over presidential authority and the future of U.S. labor policy.
Wilcox, whose firing leaves the board without a quorum to resolve labor disputes, called her dismissal illegal and vowed to challenge it through “all legal avenues.” Federal law permits the removal of NLRB members only for “neglect of duty or malfeasance in office,” raising questions about the legality of Trump’s decision.
The NLRB, which typically consists of five members appointed by the president, held a 2-1 Democratic majority prior to Wilcox’s removal. Without her, the board cannot issue rulings, potentially stalling cases involving companies and unions accused of violating federal labor laws.
The firings signal a sharp departure from the pro-labor policies implemented during Biden’s administration. Wilcox had been instrumental in adopting measures such as barring employers from holding mandatory anti-union meetings and expanding union representation pathways. Abruzzo, who shaped board policy as general counsel, also supported initiatives to empower workers, including extending bargaining rights to contract and franchise employees.
Abruzzo expressed hope that recent efforts to strengthen worker rights would endure. “If the Agency does not fully effectuate its congressional mandate in the future, I expect workers and their advocates will take matters into their own hands,” she said in a statement.
The White House has not commented on Trump’s actions, and it remains unclear whether he provided a justification for the terminations. However, the move aligns with ongoing legal challenges by companies, including Amazon and SpaceX, that question the structure and authority of the NLRB under Biden’s administration.
This development marks a significant shift in U.S. labor policy, potentially weakening union influence and reshaping the balance of power between employers and workers.