The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has long been a cornerstone of American labor protections, acting as a neutral arbiter in disputes between workers, unions and employers.
However, the Trump administration has launched an aggressive campaign to overhaul the NLRB, shifting its focus from protecting labor rights to favoring business interests — a move that has alarmed unions and labor advocates nationwide.
A business-first overhaul
The Trump administration’s approach to the NLRB has been clear: appoint pro-business members, roll back pro-labor policies and weaken the board’s enforcement powers. According to a New York Times article, these efforts are part of a broader strategy to “reshape the agency into an instrument that reflects the priorities of employers rather than employees.”
Paralyzing the board
A defining moment came with the abrupt dismissal of Gwen Wilcox, one of the NLRB’s few pro-labor voices. Removing Wilcox left the NLRB without a quorum, effectively halting its ability to issue decisions or enforce labor law. As reported by CBS News, the board’s paralysis “leaves the federal agency unable to perform its duties protecting the rights of U.S. workers and monitoring union elections.”
This move was widely seen as a calculated effort to sideline labor interests and further empower employers.
Supreme Court upholds the administration’s actions
The legal battle over Wilcox’s firing and the NLRB’s paralysis quickly escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a closely watched decision, the Court ruled that the President has broad authority to remove NLRB members and that the lack of a quorum—while disruptive—was not unconstitutional. Reuters reported that the ruling set a precedent that future administrations could use to neutralize the NLRB simply by removing members and delaying new appointments.
Labor’s Response: Mobilize and Resist
Unions across the country have condemned these actions as a direct attack on workers’ rights. The AFL-CIO issued a statement calling the board’s paralysis “a slap in the face of every worker in this country.”
As such, labor organizations are ramping up organizing drives, legal challenges and public awareness campaigns to restore balance and functionality to the NLRB.
- Organizing Drives: Unions are intensifying efforts to attract new members, emphasizing the importance of collective action.
- Legal Advocacy: Union attorneys are exploring new legal avenues to challenge the administration’s actions and protect workers’ rights.
- Public Awareness: Labor is working to educate the public about the NLRB’s role and the risks of a labor board that prioritizes business over workers.