Federal Appeals Court Upholds Trump’s Firing of Labor Board Members

‘Congress cannot restrict the President’s ability’ to remove them because the two boards wield ’substantial executive power,' the majority opinion states.

The seal of the National Labor Relations Board is seen at its headquarters in Washington on May 14, 2021. Andrew Kelly/Reuters

A divided federal appeals court ruled on Dec. 5 that President Donald Trump may fire members of independent labor boards.

The 2-1 ruling in Harris v. Bessent was issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.