Official Fired By Trump Returns To Work To Cheers After Judge Orders Reinstatement

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member fired by former President Donald Trump returned to work Monday to an enthusiastic welcome after a judge ordered her reinstatement.

Gwynne Wilcox, who was removed from office on Jan. 27, was met with cheers and signs reading “Welcome Back Gwynne” and “We Need the NLRB” as she arrived at the agency’s Washington headquarters. Her dismissal had left the board without a quorum, effectively halting decisions on labor disputes.

Wilcox’s removal left only two board members—one Democrat and one Republican—preventing the NLRB from ruling on cases. As the agency responsible for enforcing workers' collective-bargaining rights, the paralysis benefited employers seeking to delay union efforts or avoid accountability for labor violations.

Speaking to the assembled crowd, Wilcox recounted her disbelief at being fired, saying she was “stunned and disappointed” and deeply concerned about the impact on workers awaiting decisions.

"If we’re unable to function, it means workers are left in limbo," she said. "Every day without a decision is a day we’re not doing our jobs."

No president had previously removed a sitting board member, as federal law stipulates that NLRB members can only be dismissed for "neglect of duty" or "malfeasance" and must receive due process. Wilcox's term was set to run until August 2028.

However, Trump has taken aggressive steps to consolidate executive power, removing officials from independent agencies like the NLRB to assert greater control over federal bodies.

Wilcox challenged her dismissal in court, arguing it was unlawful. Last Thursday, Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled in her favor, ordering her temporary reinstatement while the case proceeds.

In her strongly worded decision, Howell criticized Trump’s view of executive authority.

"A president who portrays himself as a ‘king’ or ‘dictator’ misunderstands the constitutional limits of Article II,” she wrote.

NLRB members serve staggered five-year terms, allowing presidents to shape the board’s composition over time. Under Trump, the board is expected to take a more employer-friendly stance, shifting away from the pro-labor policies of the Biden administration.

Observers were surprised by Trump’s decision to fire Wilcox, as he could have gained a Republican majority simply by appointing two new members to fill vacant seats. Instead, he chose a legally questionable path by removing Wilcox outright.

Wilcox told HuffPost she was eager to resume her duties. Like other civil servants ousted by Trump and later reinstated, she faced administrative hurdles upon returning. While she had regained access to her work email, she wasn’t sure if she would have a laptop ready on her first day.

She acknowledged feeling an unusual level of public attention but said she believed it was crucial to highlight the significance of her case.

"It was important to bring awareness to what happened and why I fought back," she said. "Even if it was uncomfortable, it needed to be done."

After the ruling reinstating her was made public, she received a handwritten note from a neighbor she hadn’t spoken to in some time.

It read simply: "The president is not king."

This article was reported by journalist Jimmy.