Unions file suit over Trump's 'illegal' plan to fire many federal workers in a shutdown

Source: NBC News

Sept. 30, 2025, 5:01 PM EDT


WASHINGTON — Two unions have filed suit against the Trump administration over its plans to fire federal workers during the impending government shutdown, alleging that the "unlawful threats" were contrary to the law and should be declared unlawful by a federal court in San Francisco.

"These actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious, and the cynical use of federal employees as a pawn in Congressional deliberations should be declared unlawful and enjoined by this Court," the lawsuit filed hours ahead of the shutdown alleged.

The suit was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and involves the groups Democracy Forward and the State Democracy Defenders Fund. The court docket did not immediately reflect which judge would handle the case, which names Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought as a defendant.

AFGE National President Everett Kelley said that announcing plans to "fire potentially tens of thousands of federal employees simply because Congress and the administration are at odds on funding the government past the end of the fiscal year is not only illegal — it’s immoral and unconscionable,” adding that more than one-third of federal employees are military veterans.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/unions-file-suit-trumps-illegal-plan-fire-many-federal-workers-shutdow-rcna234795