‘Merit board’ chair was unlawfully fired by Trump, judge rules, keeping her on the job
CNN
The chairwoman of a critical agency that reviews federal employee firings can stay on the job, a judge ruled Tuesday, formally reversing President Donald Trump’s “unlawful” decision to fire her.
The chairwoman of a critical agency that reviews federal employee firings can stay on the job, a judge ruled Tuesday, formally reversing President Donald Trump’s “unlawful” decision to fire her. District Judge Rudolph Contreras handed a major victory to Cathy Harris, chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent agency that has the power to review and reverse federal employee firings. The little-known board has taken on new importance as Trump initiates mass government layoffs, leading to thousands of firings, and more on the way. The judge ruled that Harris can remain on the board for the rest of her term, which expires in 2028, unless she is fired for cause, as specified by the statute that established the MSPB. Trump administration officials didn’t cite any cause when they attempted to fire her in early February. “The President thus lacks the power to remove Harris from office at will. Because the President did not indicate that he sought to remove Harris for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, his attempt to terminate her was unlawful and exceeded the scope of his authority,” Contreras wrote Tuesday in a 35-page ruling. The ruling tees up a likely appeal from the Justice Department. The next stop would be the DC US Circuit Court of Appeals, and then after that, the Supreme Court. This is one of a few ongoing cases where the Trump administration is fighting in court for the right to fire agency heads. Harris is a Democrat who was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate. She has said she wants to remain at the MSPB to help deal with the avalanche of claims as Trump lays off thousands of federal workers.
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