Washington: A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that former President Donald Trump did not have the authority to remove a Democratic member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), ordering that Susan Tsui Grundmann be reinstated to her position.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan in Washington, D.C., marks a legal setback to Trump’s efforts to exert greater control over independent agencies like the FLRA and his broader push to restructure the federal workforce.
Sooknanan’s ruling reinstates Grundmann, ensuring a 2-1 Democratic majority on the FLRA until her term expires in July. The FLRA, established by Congress as an independent agency, plays a crucial role in overseeing labor relations in the federal government. It has the authority to mandate collective bargaining between federal agencies and unions and, in certain cases, can prevent the dismissal of unionized employees.
Sooknanan emphasized in her decision that Trump’s actions had undermined Congress’ intention to keep the FLRA insulated from political influence.
“The independence of the FLRA was central to its creation, as Congress wanted to ensure a fair, consistent, and unbiased process for managing federal labor relations that would not shift with political whims,” Sooknanan stated in the ruling.
The White House and Grundmann’s legal representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Since Trump took office, tens of thousands of federal employees have been dismissed as part of a sweeping cost-cutting initiative. This effort, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk—who served as a top White House adviser—targeted reductions across various federal agencies. Approximately 30% of federal employees are represented by unions, which provide them with additional legal protections. Federal unions are required to bring disputes to the FLRA before pursuing litigation in court.
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Trump dismissed Grundmann, a Biden appointee, on February 11 without providing an official reason, according to court filings. Grundmann subsequently sued, arguing that her removal violated federal labor relations law, which stipulates that FLRA members can only be removed “for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”
During a recent court hearing, a Department of Justice lawyer did not deny that Trump’s actions breached the law but contended that statutory restrictions on the removal of FLRA members were unconstitutional.
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Sooknanan rejected this argument, stating: “The government’s arguments paint with a broad brush and threaten to upend fundamental protections in our Constitution. But ours is not an autocracy; it is a system of checks and balances.”
Trump has attempted to remove Democratic appointees from multiple independent federal agencies, prompting legal challenges from at least three other officials. The Trump administration is currently appealing decisions that reinstated members of the National Labor Relations Board—which handles private-sector labor disputes—and the Merit Systems Protection Board, which reviews federal workers’ appeals regarding terminations and disciplinary actions.
