Legal Defense Network Set Up for Feds with Job Status Questions
Federal labor groups and legal organizations launched a new legal defense fund to help federal employees who were fired or are facing termination in the midst of the Trump Administration's efforts to shrink the federal workforce. For those thousands of employees, it’s a very confusing time, as various court decisions and other actions put their job status on a roller coaster.
The coalition is called the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network and it offers pro bono services to help thousands of federal workers who may have questions about their employment status or whether they have any recourse after a termination.
The organization is currently recruiting attorneys nationwide for the pro bono work, and is soliciting donations. Federal employees seeking legal assistance can simply fill out a confidential form to get connected with an attorney.
The effort is led by numerous groups including Democracy Forward, the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the Partnership for Public Service, and We The Action.
“Attacks on federal workers are attacks on all workers and on the essential services that our communities rely on daily,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO. “Getting these workers the justice they deserve in the face of this onslaught will take all of us. I’m so proud to announce the formation of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network with our partners today. This new network is a critical tool empowering federal workers to fight back. When we come together, we are stronger than any of us alone.”
Former Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Rob Shriver, now managing director for the Civil Service Strong program at Democracy Forward, said the scale of the administration’s layoffs makes such a program necessary.
“With the normal mechanisms for helping feds out, like going to their union representatives or going to federal employment law firms, the volume was too high for that normal support system to manage,” said Shriver.
That sentiment was echoed by Doreen Greenwald, NTEU National President.
“The Federal Workers Legal Defense Network is a welcome resource for federal employees whose careers and livelihoods are impacted by the administration’s attack on the federal workforce,” said Greenwald. “NTEU applauds the thousands of attorneys across the nation willing to volunteer their time to advocate on behalf of career civil servants.”
The organizations are also bracing for a new wave of questions and cases once the administration starts implementing its Reductions in Force (RIFs).
“We knew that time was of the essence because this was coming, and we are expecting a big influx of questions from feds as they start getting notices of reductions in force,” said Shriver.
However, the Trump Administration sees it differently, insisting the workforce cuts are meant to cut down on government waste, and to streamlining operations.
