2/15/2025 - Your Union in Action

Feb 15, 2025

YOUR UNION IN ACTION

NTEU Fights to Stop Administration from Piecemeal Dismantling of Federal Government

On Feb. 12, 2025, NTEU along with a coalition of unions representing hundreds of thousands of employees filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s efforts to break the government. The lawsuit calls out the arbitrary firing of probationary employees; the indiscriminate designation of tens of thousands of employees as “non-essential” and thus expendable, the so-called deferred resignation pressure campaign on federal employees to resign or risk being fired; and the sidestepping of the government’s obligations under the reduction-in-force (RIF) regulations when there is an administration-imposed agency reorganization.

On Thursday afternoon, the administration ordered agencies across the government to conduct a mass firing of thousands of federal employees serving in their probationary or trial period. To address the widespread immediate harm caused to these employees, last evening (Feb. 14), NTEU filed a request for a temporary restraining order to stop the administration from firing non-essential employees, mass firing of probationary employees and further extension of the deferred resignation program. We expect a hearing next week to defend our request in court. We will keep you informed as litigation continues.

NTEU Fights Systemic Effort to Destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers, and for almost 15 years, CFPB employees have successfully fought on behalf of American consumers, giving back over $20 billion to the public. The CFPB and its employees are currently under attack by the administration, which has publicly announced its goal of destroying the Bureau.

This week has been devastating for our members at the CFPB. Employees were ordered not to work and locked out of buildings, offices, and even their work accounts. More than 70 probationary and trial employees were abruptly fired, by email, with little to no explanation. And rumors abound about a massive reduction-in-force across the Bureau.

We stand in solidarity with CFPB as NTEU fights to enforce employees’ rights. On February 9, 2025, NTEU took immediate steps to address the administration’s threats against the Bureau by filing two lawsuits to protect our members. In the first, NTEU fights back against the administration’s efforts to dismantle the CFPB, and attack our members’ livelihoods, in contravention of law. In the second, we fight to hold the CFPB accountable for exposing the personal information of CFPB employees to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an act that fundamentally violates the employees’ right to privacy.

On Thursday, an amended complaint was filed in court by our partners Gupta Wessler LLP and with Public Citizen. The amended complaint reiterates the allegations from our first Feb. 9 lawsuit and adds two more claims. Shortly after filing the amended complaint, a request for emergency relief was filed seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO). A hearing was held this afternoon on the emergency relief motion. With the approval of the judge, the parties agreed to a hold on (1) all RIF notices and terminations without cause; (2) transfer of Bureau funds; and (3) the destruction of documents, until March 3 when a hearing will be held. We will let you know about next steps.

Fight Back

I know these are difficult times for everyone. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have already been affected by the administration’s actions. WE MUST use our collective strength to fight back to stop these shameful attacks on the civil servants whose job it is to serve the American people. I urge everyone to continue to use our legislative action center to reach out to your elected representatives as often as you can. Please plan to have your friends and family join in our fight: Ask them to call their elected representatives to request that they protect federal employees.

Please join the “Save Our Services Day” of Action on Wednesday, Feb. 19 by wearing red, white and/or blue. Take a selfie with a sign explaining how your work as a federal employee impacts and benefits Americans. Your family and friends can join in by holding a sign that they support federal workers and appreciate how they benefit from federal services. Share your pictures with us here and on social media—and please remember to tag us in your posts: