Overview

• U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ruled that President Trump unlawfully fired Susan Grundmann, a Democratic appointee to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
• The FLRA adjudicates disputes between federal agencies and employee unions, with its members protected by law from dismissal without cause.
• Grundmann was removed via a brief email in February without explanation, a move the court found violated statutory protections and longstanding Supreme Court precedent.
• The ruling is the latest in a series of legal challenges to Trump's attempts to reshape independent federal agencies and consolidate executive power.
• Legal experts believe the case, which underscores constitutional checks and balances, may ultimately be reviewed by the Supreme Court.