A federal judge has temporarily blocked the removal of a Democrat from the Merit Systems Protection Board, a U.S. agency that hears appeals by federal government employees when they are fired or disciplined. The board’s chair, Cathy Harris, was fired by President Donald Trump after he took office last month. A temporary restraining order issued by Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington, D.C., prevents the Trump administration from removing Harris while she considers her lawsuit alleging that her termination was unlawful.
The case is one of several brought by chairs or members of independent boards who have been fired by Trump since his inauguration. Federal workers who lose their jobs can challenge before the board to be reinstated. The board’s removal has put it in a central spot as Trump moves swiftly to shrink the federal government’s workforce.
A 21-page ruling by Judge Contreras said Trump’s attempt to fire Harris likely violated the federal law creating the board, which allows members to be removed only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The judge emphasized that there is a substantial public interest in having governmental agencies abide by federal laws governing their existence and operations.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Harris was appointed to the MSPB in 2022 by President Joe Biden and served as its chair until Trump took office last month. Trump named Henry Kerner, a Republican, as acting chair of the board before he fired Harris.
This ruling is part of a larger series of battles over Trump’s power over independent boards. The case will likely culminate in the Supreme Court after Michael Kator, a lawyer for Harris, said it was “only the first step” in a series of challenges to come.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-blocks-trump-removing-democrat-government-workplace-board-2025-02-18