AFSCME and AFGE sue Trump over civil service politicization efforts

AFSCME and AFGE Challenge Alleged Civil Service Politicization by Trump Administration

In a significant legal move, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) have taken action against the Trump administration. The two unions have filed a lawsuit aiming to halt what they describe as an attempt to politicize the federal civil service via executive orders.

The lawsuit claims that former President Donald Trump acted beyond his legal authority by attempting to modify a regulation that ensures the rights of federal workers. The administration's intention, according to the lawsuit, is to ease the removal of career civil servants to replace them with individuals loyal to the president.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders criticized these actions, stating they represent "a shameless attempt to politicize the federal workforce by replacing thousands of dedicated, qualified civil servants with political cronies." Saunders highlighted the origins of the union, emphasizing its commitment to a professional, non-partisan civil service.

National President of AFGE, Everett Kelley, remarked that the lawsuit is a necessary step to "protect the integrity of the American people’s government." Kelley asserted, "Together, we can stop the efforts to fire hundreds of thousands of experienced, hard-working Americans who have dedicated their careers to serving their country and prevent these career civil servants from being replaced with unqualified political flunkies loyal to the president, but not the law or Constitution."

Adding to the criticism, Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, commented on the administration's approach, noting its "blatant disregard for the law in service of its political objectives" within just days of taking office. Perryman further emphasized that such efforts to politicize the non-partisan federal workforce are "simply and clearly illegal," impacting crucial services provided by these employees.