Unions Expand Lawsuit to Stop Federal Worker Firings in Shutdown

Federal Worker Unions Expand Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Termination Plans During Shutdown

SAN FRANCISCO – Labor unions, opposing the Trump administration's mass dismissal of federal employees amid the government shutdown, have widened their lawsuit to include more federal workers. They are seeking a court order to prevent the administration from terminating any employees as the case unfolds.

The lawsuit, originally filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) on September 30, accuses the administration of breaking the law by threatening to fire furloughed federal workers and requiring employees to work unpaid to execute these mass firings. Legal representation for the unions is provided by Altshuler Berzon LLP, Democracy Forward, and Democracy Defenders Fund. The lawsuit details can be found here.

On October 15, Judge Susan Illston from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order that barred the administration from enforcing or issuing new reduction-in-force (RIF) notices to employees at defendant agencies. The order was clarified on October 17 to protect all agency offices where the unions have members.

The lawsuit was expanded on October 17 to now include employees represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The amended filing on Tuesday further seeks to include federal employees represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). The amended filing can be accessed here.

AFGE National President Everett Kelley stated, “The administration’s move to fire thousands of patriotic civil servants while the government is shut down is patently illegal, and I’m glad we are able to expand our lawsuit to protect even more federal workers from facing termination.” He emphasized that the administration's actions were politically motivated and not related to the employees' work performance.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders commented, “The administration’s planned mass firings clearly broke the law, which is why we won our motion to stop them temporarily last week.” He highlighted the lawsuit's expansion as a necessary measure to protect more workers from the administration’s misuse of power.

SEIU Executive Vice President Heather Conroy added, “Firing federal workers during a government shutdown is as cruel as it is unlawful.” Conroy criticized the administration for prioritizing the interests of billionaires over working people and vowed to hold them accountable.

AFT President Randi Weingarten remarked, “Federal workers and the people they serve are always the ones hurt when the government shuts down.” She condemned the administration's actions as political retribution and called for accountability.

NFFE National President Randy Erwin noted, “Not only were the Trump administration’s illegal firings reckless and cruel, but they also came at a time when the government is shutdown.” He expressed relief that courts are holding the administration accountable.

NAGE National President David J. Holway emphasized, “These attacks are not just an assault on our hardworking public servants; they are an assault on the very functioning of our democracy.” He affirmed NAGE's commitment to defending the rule of law and fairness.

IFPTE President Matt Biggs stated, “This joint action reaffirms two truths: that organized labor is leading the fight against the administration’s unprecedented and unlawful attack on federal workers’ rights, and that the more vicious and outrageous their attacks become, the stronger we stand in solidarity.”

NTEU President Doreen Greenwald asserted, “NTEU proudly stands in solidarity with other unions to fight the administration’s reckless plan to send federal employees around the country to the unemployment lines.”

Danielle Leonard, Altshuler Berzon LLP said, “There is nothing remotely lawful about this administration’s choice to force federal employees to work during a government shutdown to terminate their fellow public servants, all to serve political aims.”

Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, stated, “The rule of law does not shut down, as much as President Trump may hope it does. Across the country, courts are continuing to uphold the Constitution, and communities are continuing to fight back and win against unlawful power grabs.”

Amb. Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, remarked, “The Trump administration continues to expand its illegal conduct under the pretext of the government shutdown. We’re expanding our lawsuit to fully address this wrongdoing.”

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