A federal judge has stepped in to protect Cathy Harris, the chair of an independent board that safeguards government workers from political bias and unfair labor practices. On Tuesday, Judge Rudolph Contreras issued an order blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to fire her. This ruling marks the second time a judge has supported a government watchdog fighting against their own removal.
The case highlights ongoing legal challenges to President Trump’s efforts to reshape federal agencies and independent panels. These lawsuits have even reached the Supreme Court, testing the courts’ willingness to limit presidential power.
Judge Contreras, from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled that Harris should keep her position. He referenced several Supreme Court decisions to support his decision. He emphasized that the board’s mission requires independence, stating that allowing the president to remove its members without cause would undermine that independence.
Cathy Harris, a government lawyer on the Merit Systems Protection Board, was dismissed by Trump earlier this year. She claimed her firing was politically motivated. The law that established her position intended for the board to be nonpartisan, with members serving staggered seven-year terms to allow different administrations to influence its makeup.
Harris was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2022. According to the law governing her role, a president can only remove someone from the board for reasons such as inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct. This ruling not only reinstates Harris but also reinforces the importance of maintaining independence in government oversight roles.