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Federal Judge Rules Trump's Firing of Labor Board Member Unconstitutional

Judge Sparkle Sooknanan reinstates Susan Tsui Grundmann, citing constitutional protections and limits on presidential authority.

President Donald Trump waits for the arrival of Ireland's Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon hosted by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
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Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ruled that President Donald Trump unlawfully removed Susan Tsui Grundmann from the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
  • Grundmann's firing bypassed statutory protections requiring cause, notice, and a hearing, which are designed to ensure the agency's independence.
  • The FLRA, created by Congress, resolves disputes between federal agencies and employee unions and is intended to operate free from White House influence.
  • The decision temporarily restores a 2-1 Democratic majority on the FLRA until Grundmann's term expires in July 2025.
  • This ruling adds to ongoing legal challenges over Trump's efforts to reshape independent federal agencies and could escalate to the Supreme Court.