President Donald Trump faced another legal setback on Wednesday in his quest to dismiss leaders of federal agencies overseeing labor disputes.
Legal Ruling Against Trump’s Actions
U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan mandated the reinstatement of Susan Grundmann to her role at the Federal Labor Relations Authority, which arbitrates disputes between the federal government and federal employees’ unions.
Judge Sooknanan determined that Trump’s termination of Grundmann contravened federal laws and Congress’ authority to establish the independent body.
Preserving Constitutional Protections
“The government’s arguments … jeopardize essential safeguards in our Constitution,” wrote the Biden appointee in a 35-page verdict. “Our system is not an autocracy but a system of checks and balances.”
This ruling marks Judge Sooknanan as the most recent district judge to thwart Trump’s endeavors to circumvent federal laws limiting the president’s power to dismiss members of independent boards designed to restrict and oversee the executive branch. Judges have likewise repudiated his efforts to oust a member of the Merit Systems Protection Board, responsible for addressing federal employee grievances, and a member of the National Labor Relations Board, which handles labor disputes in the private sector.
Appellate Process and Potential Supreme Court Review
The administration is expected to challenge the recent ruling to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The broader legal question—whether the president possesses the authority to dismiss any executive branch employee for any reason—is likely heading to the Supreme Court, which has shown sympathy in recent years for arguments favoring increased presidential control over executive branch agencies.
