U.S. President Donald Trump has removed two Democratic officials from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), effectively halting the agency’s ability to rule on labor disputes and shifting control toward Republicans.
Trump dismissed NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox and General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, both appointed by former President Joe Biden, late Monday, according to an agency spokesperson. No reason was provided for their removal.
Abruzzo, who served as the board’s chief prosecutor, was expected to be dismissed. However, Wilcox’s removal is unprecedented, as her term was set to run until August 2028, and it may violate federal labor law.
Wilcox, the first Black woman on the five-member board, stated she would pursue “all legal avenues” to challenge her firing. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
With Wilcox’s removal, the board now lacks a quorum, preventing it from issuing rulings, including those on cases involving Amazon, Tesla, Walmart, Apple, and dozens against Starbucks amid an ongoing unionization campaign. The board typically reviews decisions made by in-house administrative judges, but without a quorum, those rulings cannot be enforced.
The NLRB enforces federal labor laws protecting workers’ rights to organize, negotiate workplace conditions, and form or dissolve unions. Federal law does not allow workers to sue employers over labor violations, making the NLRB the primary avenue for legal recourse.
Under federal law, NLRB members can only be removed for “neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.” However, several companies, including Amazon and Elon Musk’s SpaceX, have filed lawsuits challenging these protections. They argue that the president should have unrestricted authority to remove board members and that the NLRB’s internal enforcement structure is unconstitutional.
Musk, a key adviser to Trump, is leading a commission focused on reducing government spending and eliminating federal regulations.
Trump now has the opportunity to fill two existing vacancies in addition to replacing Wilcox and Abruzzo, which could secure Republican control of the NLRB. The administration has not yet announced nominees for the open positions.
Democratic lawmakers and labor unions condemned the firings, warning that they would delay justice for workers. Rep. Robert Scott, the top Democrat on the House labor committee, said Wilcox’s removal violated federal labor laws and constitutional due process.
“Without Member Wilcox, the board cannot issue decisions to hold union-busting companies accountable, further stymieing justice for workers fighting for better conditions,” Scott said.
Some Republican lawmakers supported Trump’s move. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, said the board under Abruzzo had “weaponized its authority against American workers, opening them up to intimidation, coercion, and forced unionization.”
The NLRB, established in 1935, is designed to operate independently of the White House. Its members serve staggered terms, ensuring that control typically shifts a year or more after a new president takes office.
