SCOTUS to Hear Workforce Cut Case
And the GOP "big beautiful" budget does nothing for labor law enforcers
The Supreme Court may soon weigh in on President Donald Trump’s broad attacks on the federal civil service.
About 135,000 federal workers have had their jobs cut or taken buyouts since Trump took office, according to a tracker maintained by the New York Times. (Some of the workers who have been cut were reinstated, at least temporarily, by court orders).
The American Federation of Government Employees and other unions, cities, and organizations sued the administration earlier this year to stop the sweeping cuts to the government workforce. It’s the biggest among a number of cases challenging the mass firings.
In May, a federal court blocked the cuts while the lawsuit proceeds. Then, on Monday, Trump asked the Supreme Court to allow the administration to continue the sweeping cuts to the federal workforce while the case makes its way through the courts.
News and Views
GOP Budget Won’t Help Labor Enforcers: The Republican budget bill allocates $185 billion for “immigration enforcement” while the government only spends $2.3 billion a year on labor standards enforcement, according to a new analysis from the Economic Policy Institute. “The Republican budget bill provides exactly zero new dollars to federal agencies that protect workers—even though these agencies’ funding has been flat or declining for decades while workers are being hurt, killed, and robbed on the job at alarming rates,” the EPI writes.
Trump’s Steel Flip Flop: Trump had previously opposed the Japanese company Nippon Steel’s proposed takeover of US Steel, which employs tens of thousands of people. President Joe Biden had blocked the takeover, arguing that it posed a national security threat. Biden’s move drew praise from the United Steelworkers International union. “We're grateful for President Biden's willingness to take bold action to maintain a strong domestic steel industry and for his lifelong commitment to American workers," union President David McCall said at the time. Now, Trump is hailing a “partnership” deal between the Japanese and U.S. companies, calling it a win for workers – but the United Steelworkers and many members are skeptical.
Unemployment for Workers on Strike: The Oregon state House just passed a bill to give unemployment benefits to striking workers – both public and private sector. The state Senate passed a version of the bill earlier this year, and the House version now needs to be passed by the Senate. Across the country in Connecticut, Democratic Governor Ned Lamont is set to veto similar legislation. In New York, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul passed a budget this year that allowed striking workers to receive unemployment benefits after one week on strike (it was previously two).
Today’s Win
More climbing gym workers are organizing with Workers United in NYC.