Latest news with #MSPB
E&E News
5 days ago
- General
- E&E News
How the Supreme Court could undercut FERC independence
The Supreme Court's conservative supermajority recently dealt a blow to nearly a century of precedent that has prevented presidents from firing independent agency heads without cause. Last week, the court approved President Donald Trump's request to reverse a lower court's ruling that blocked Trump from firing members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). 'Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the President, he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents,' the court majority wrote. Advertisement The majority added that it did not 'ultimately decide' whether NLRB and MSPB fell within those narrow exceptions. But legal experts say the decision — made through the emergency or 'shadow' docket — signals that the Supreme Court is poised to undercut the historic independence of agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
6 days ago
- Politics
Fired federal tech staffers file retaliation claim to a panel whose chairwoman Trump also fired
WASHINGTON -- A group of roughly 80 fired federal employees on Wednesday appealed their terminations to an administrative body in charge of protecting the rights of federal employees from partisan political practices. Notably, that board's chairwoman was also recently fired by President Donald Trump. The 18F employees, who worked on technology projects such as the IRS' Direct File, filed an appeal at the Merit Systems Protection Board against the General Services Administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. They claim they were identified in February for a reduction-in-force because of their 'perceived political affiliations or beliefs,' as well as 'protected speech and actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actions to resist and blow the whistle on management's improper handling and transition of control concerning sensitive data and systems.' In February, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk posted on his social media site that he had 'deleted' 18F. Musk was responding to a post by an X user who called 18F 'far left' and mused that Direct File 'puts the government in charge' of preparing people's taxes. 'That group has been deleted,' Musk wrote. The appeal documents state that the employees were removed from federal service 'through a purported RIF because they were perceived to be left-wing, radical, or affiliated with DEI activities," which "abuses the laws and regulations governing RIFs to punish perceived political opponents and to coerce conformity with their values and political positions, and violates federal civil rights statutes.' One of the MSPB's primary functions is to protect federal workers against partisan politics and other prohibited personnel practices by adjudicating employee appeals, according to the board's website. The workers' complaint comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to fire the head of the board, Cathy Harris, while a lawsuit plays out. According to the MSPB website, as of April 9, Acting Chairman Henry Kerner is the sole serving board member, and the board is currently without a quorum to vote on petitions for review.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fired federal tech staffers file retaliation claim to a panel whose chairwoman Trump also fired
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of roughly 80 fired federal employees on Wednesday appealed their terminations to an administrative body in charge of protecting the rights of federal employees from partisan political practices. Notably, that board's chairwoman was also recently fired by President Donald Trump. The 18F employees, who worked on technology projects such as the IRS' Direct File, filed an appeal at the Merit Systems Protection Board against the General Services Administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. They claim they were identified in February for a reduction-in-force because of their 'perceived political affiliations or beliefs,' as well as 'protected speech and actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actions to resist and blow the whistle on management's improper handling and transition of control concerning sensitive data and systems.' In February, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk posted on his social media site that he had 'deleted' 18F. Musk was responding to a post by an X user who called 18F 'far left' and mused that Direct File 'puts the government in charge' of preparing people's taxes. 'That group has been deleted,' Musk wrote. The appeal documents state that the employees were removed from federal service 'through a purported RIF because they were perceived to be left-wing, radical, or affiliated with DEI activities," which "abuses the laws and regulations governing RIFs to punish perceived political opponents and to coerce conformity with their values and political positions, and violates federal civil rights statutes.' One of the MSPB's primary functions is to protect federal workers against partisan politics and other prohibited personnel practices by adjudicating employee appeals, according to the board's website. The workers' complaint comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to fire the head of the board, Cathy Harris, while a lawsuit plays out. According to the MSPB website, as of April 9, Acting Chairman Henry Kerner is the sole serving board member, and the board is currently without a quorum to vote on petitions for review. A White House official did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Fired federal tech staffers file retaliation claim to a panel whose chairwoman Trump also fired
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of roughly 80 fired federal employees on Wednesday appealed their terminations to an administrative body in charge of protecting the rights of federal employees from partisan political practices. Notably, that board's chairwoman was also recently fired by President Donald Trump. The 18F employees, who worked on technology projects such as the IRS' Direct File, filed an appeal at the Merit Systems Protection Board against the General Services Administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. They claim they were identified in February for a reduction-in-force because of their 'perceived political affiliations or beliefs,' as well as 'protected speech and actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actions to resist and blow the whistle on management's improper handling and transition of control concerning sensitive data and systems.' In February, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk posted on his social media site that he had 'deleted' 18F. Musk was responding to a post by an X user who called 18F 'far left' and mused that Direct File 'puts the government in charge' of preparing people's taxes. 'That group has been deleted,' Musk wrote. The appeal documents state that the employees were removed from federal service 'through a purported RIF because they were perceived to be left-wing, radical, or affiliated with DEI activities,' which 'abuses the laws and regulations governing RIFs to punish perceived political opponents and to coerce conformity with their values and political positions, and violates federal civil rights statutes.' One of the MSPB's primary functions is to protect federal workers against partisan politics and other prohibited personnel practices by adjudicating employee appeals, according to the board's website. The workers' complaint comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to fire the head of the board, Cathy Harris, while a lawsuit plays out. According to the MSPB website, as of April 9, Acting Chairman Henry Kerner is the sole serving board member, and the board is currently without a quorum to vote on petitions for review. A White House official did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fired federal tech staffers file retaliation claim to a panel whose chairwoman Trump also fired
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of roughly 80 fired federal employees on Wednesday appealed their terminations to an administrative body in charge of protecting the rights of federal employees from partisan political practices. Notably, that board's chairwoman was also recently fired by President Donald Trump. The 18F employees, who worked on technology projects such as the IRS' Direct File, filed an appeal at the Merit Systems Protection Board against the General Services Administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. They claim they were identified in February for a reduction-in-force because of their 'perceived political affiliations or beliefs,' as well as 'protected speech and actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actions to resist and blow the whistle on management's improper handling and transition of control concerning sensitive data and systems.' In February, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk posted on his social media site that he had 'deleted' 18F. Musk was responding to a post by an X user who called 18F 'far left' and mused that Direct File 'puts the government in charge' of preparing people's taxes. 'That group has been deleted,' Musk wrote. The appeal documents state that the employees were removed from federal service 'through a purported RIF because they were perceived to be left-wing, radical, or affiliated with DEI activities," which "abuses the laws and regulations governing RIFs to punish perceived political opponents and to coerce conformity with their values and political positions, and violates federal civil rights statutes.' One of the MSPB's primary functions is to protect federal workers against partisan politics and other prohibited personnel practices by adjudicating employee appeals, according to the board's website. The workers' complaint comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to fire the head of the board, Cathy Harris, while a lawsuit plays out. According to the MSPB website, as of April 9, Acting Chairman Henry Kerner is the sole serving board member, and the board is currently without a quorum to vote on petitions for review. A White House official did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment. Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
