Late Monday night, President Donald Trump made waves by firing two commissioners at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The decision has sparked strong reactions from Democrats, with many calling it an illegal power grab.
Jocelyn Samuels, one of the fired commissioners, shared her shock on social media, revealing she got an email from the White House saying she was being “removed from my position.” She called it an “unprecedented” action, especially since her term wasn’t over yet. Samuels didn’t mince words, saying the firing was against the law. She also made it clear that she’s looking into her legal options and will keep fighting for workers’ civil rights.
Charlotte A. Burrows, the EEOC’s former chair, also found herself out of a job that night. Burrows, who still had over three years left on her term, said the firings would weaken the agency’s ability to do its important work of investigating workplace discrimination and enforcing civil rights laws.
The New York Times reported that Trump also removed Karla Gilbride, the agency’s general counsel, from her position.
The EEOC declined to comment on the firings, instead directing questions to the White House.
These moves aren’t entirely new for Trump. The president took similar steps with another workplace regulator, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), firing the Democratic general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, and board member Gwynne Wilcox.
A White House spokesperson explained the firings, calling the officials “far-left appointees with radical records of upending longstanding labor law.” According to the spokesperson, they had no place in the Trump administration, which, they argued, had a mandate to undo what they called “radical policies.”
While it’s true that former President Joe Biden also fired Trump’s general counsels at both the EEOC and NLRB, Biden didn’t remove commissioners or board members before their terms were up.
These firings have raised legal questions. The president’s power to remove officials at independent agencies, like the EEOC, could be challenged in court. A 90-year-old Supreme Court ruling says the president can only dismiss these officials for specific reasons, like neglect of duty or misconduct.
Washington state Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat, didn’t hold back in her response. She called the firings “alarming” and “illegal,” accusing the president of thinking he’s “above the law” and not caring about workers’ rights.
What’s Next?
These bold actions have triggered a legal and political firestorm. As the dust settles, expect more debate and legal challenges over whether the president can take such drastic steps, especially when it comes to officials at independent agencies. The fight for workers’ rights and civil rights at the workplace is far from over.
