(RightIsRight.co) – In a landmark move questioning presidential powers, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras has countered a decision by President Donald Trump as unlawful, and has reinstated Cathy A. Harris as chairwoman of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
See the tweet below!
This decision pushes back against President Trump’s attempt to remove Harris and reaffirms the constitutional protections that underpin the independence of federal oversight bodies.
This significant ruling highlights the power struggle over MSPB’s political independence.
On February 18, 2025, Judge Contreras invalidated Trump’s effort to terminate Harris, emphasizing that MSPB members’ removal must adhere to “good cause” requirements.
The court ruling underscores that presidential removal powers have limitations, vital for protecting the MSPB’s impartiality.
The MSPB plays a critical role in resolving disputes between government employees and federal agencies, ensuring a check on political influence.
The Trump administration argued for the president’s power to remove MSPB leaders, claiming statutory protections were unconstitutional.
However, this argument failed, and Harris’s lawful reinstatement reinforces MSPB’s autonomy.
Judge Contreras cited the Civil Service Reform Act, which allows removal of MSPB members only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, none of which applied to Harris.
This law existed to secure MSPB members from political pressure, a cornerstone reinforced by the rejection of Trump’s overreach.
“The court thus concludes that Harris has demonstrated that she is likely to show her termination as a member of the MSPB was unlawful,” Contreras declared, cited by The Washington Times.
According to sources, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to intervene in a similar case involving Hampton Dellinger, suggesting judicial reluctance to expand executive power over independent agencies.
The Justice Department’s appeal to the Supreme Court echoes ongoing debate over presidential authority.
Reinstating Harris not only preserves her position but also enables a Democrat majority on the board, crucial in disputes over federal employee discipline.
The court’s decision lends a reminder that the executive branch must conform to legal frameworks established to protect the integrity of federal institutions.
The 2025 decision aligns with a longstanding judicial precedent which asserts limits on presidential powers for firing independent agency leaders, referencing cases like Humphrey’s Executor.
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the government to restore Cathy A. Harris to her position on the Merit Systems Protection Board, saying it appears President Trump’s attempt to fire her was illegal.https://t.co/Oc3TLr3XkA
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) February 19, 2025
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