Attorney General Dan Rayfield, along with a coalition of 20 attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief in support of Gwynne Wilcox, a former Chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in her lawsuit against President Donald Trump. The case, Wilcox v. Trump, is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
President Trump dismissed Wilcox from the NLRB on January 27th during her five-year appointment term. This dismissal left only two members on the five-member board, rendering it unable to function due to a lack of quorum. The coalition argues that a functioning NLRB is crucial for enforcing labor laws nationwide and is urging the court to reinstate Wilcox.
“This is a clear attack on workers’ rights and ensuring fair labor practices,” stated Attorney General Rayfield. He added that the disruption caused by this action harms employees and undermines both the rule of law and democratic processes.
The attorneys general argue that without a fully operational NLRB, American workers are deprived of their right to join unions and engage in collective bargaining—protections they have relied on for decades. The agency's responsibilities include investigating labor law violations, adjudicating disputes, and certifying union election results.
Over the past decade, the NLRB has reviewed nearly 3,000 allegations of unfair labor practices. Currently, there are 452 pending cases in Oregon alone.
For these reasons, the coalition is urging the court to expedite summary judgment in favor of Wilcox and order her reinstatement as an NLRB member.
The brief was submitted by Attorney General Rayfield along with his counterparts from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.