March 12, 2025 Story by: Editor
Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) joined former National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Chair Lauren McFerran and both current and former NLRB employees to welcome Member Gwynne Wilcox back to the office. Wilcox returned six weeks after former President Donald Trump unlawfully attempted to remove her from her position.
“Today was a good day. Amidst the Trump Administration’s flurry of illegal firings, I was honored to celebrate the reinstatement of a dedicated public servant in Member Wilcox,” Rep. Horsford stated. “This wasn’t just about one person and one job – it was about the justice and dignity that every fired federal employee deserves, and about recognizing the real-world impact these firings have for the American people.”
Wilcox, the first Black woman appointed to the NLRB, was removed in a move that significantly disrupted the agency’s operations. While she legally challenged her dismissal in federal court, the NLRB was left without a quorum, preventing it from issuing decisions related to union elections or enforcing labor protections.
“The NLRB is an independent agency that works for workers, not presidents,” Horsford emphasized. “Without the quorum Member Wilcox provides, the Board could not do its business on behalf of American workers, leaving their right to organize more vulnerable, and undermining their ability to bargain for better pay, stronger benefits, and safer working conditions.”
In his role as Co-Chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, Horsford played a key part in leading a bipartisan coalition of 265 lawmakers—encompassing every Democrat in the House and Senate—in demanding Wilcox’s reinstatement.
On March 6, Senior Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Trump’s decision to fire Wilcox was “a blatant violation of the law.” The judge added, “A President who touts an image of himself as a ‘king’ or a ‘dictator,’ perhaps as his vision of effective leadership, fundamentally misapprehends the role under Article II of the U.S. Constitution.”
Horsford praised the ruling, stating, “Judge Howell’s ruling is more than yet another legal rebuke for this rogue administration – it’s a victory for American workers and the rule of law.” He further noted, “As President Trump and Elon Musk continue their assault on the civil service, Member Wilcox’s reinstatement represents all the good we’re fighting for – and all the government overreach we’re fighting against.” Source: Congressman Steven Horsford
