In a major legal defeat for the Trump administration, a federal judge ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump unlawfully removed Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the agency responsible for protecting government employees from partisan interference.
Court Orders Harris’ Reinstatement
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras issued a permanent injunction reinstating Harris to her position, ruling that Trump’s actions exceeded his authority. The court found that Harris was removed without cause, in violation of the law.
“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.
The ruling ensures Harris remains in office through her term ending in March 2028, unless she is lawfully removed for cause.
Trump’s Removal Attempt Lacked Justification
Trump’s decision to fire Harris was communicated in a one-sentence, late-night email from the White House last month. The judge found that Harris had been performing efficiently, having successfully reduced the MSPB’s massive 3,800-case backlog.
Despite this, Trump sought to install Republican Henry Kerner as chairman, replacing Harris. Raymond Limon, another Democrat who served as vice chair, resigned last week at the end of his term, leaving the board in a state of transition.
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MSPB’s Growing Role Amid Federal Workforce Changes
The ruling comes as Trump aggressively moves to reshape the federal workforce, slashing thousands of government positions and emphasizing partisan loyalty among civil servants.
The Merit Systems Protection Board has become increasingly significant, as some judges have denied lawsuits from federal employees, stating that the correct legal avenue for claims is the MSPB, not federal court.
Another Legal Defeat for Trump’s Workforce Overhaul
Harris’ case isn’t the only instance of Trump’s removals being overturned.
On Saturday, another federal judge reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger, who was similarly removed without cause.
These rulings highlight the legal limitations on Trump’s authority and could have wider implications for his efforts to restructure the federal government.
