Attorney General Kwame Raoul of Illinois and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have spearheaded a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief. This action opposes President Donald Trump's attempt to remove Gwynne Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The removal would leave the board with only two members, preventing it from functioning due to lack of quorum.
A federal judge recently ruled in Wilcox v. Trump that Trump's effort to dismiss Wilcox was illegal, allowing her to remain on the board. However, the Trump administration has requested a stay on this ruling while pursuing an appeal. Raoul and his colleagues are urging the court to deny this request for a stay, arguing that removing Wilcox would undermine worker protections and destabilize federal labor law.
"I am urging the court to let last week’s ruling go into effect and allow the NLRB to do its job," Raoul stated. "Granting a stay would hinder the NLRB’s ability to administer the National Labor Relations Act. This would harm workers and employers alike. I will continue to stand with my fellow attorneys general in defending the board and protecting American workers and states’ economies."
The NLRB is tasked with enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which ensures workers' rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. The board adjudicates labor disputes and certifies union election results nationwide.
President Trump attempted to remove Wilcox on January 27, 2025, during her five-year term without citing misconduct or other legal grounds required for such action.
Raoul's brief emphasizes that halting NLRB operations could negatively impact public reliance on its functions under NLRA. Collective bargaining contributes to better wages and conditions not only for unionized workers but also influences non-union jobs by fostering competitive wages.
This initiative is part of Raoul's ongoing efforts against challenges posed by the Trump administration regarding workers' rights and NLRB structure. On March 5, he led another coalition filing against constitutional challenges to NLRB proceedings, following a February 28 brief supporting Wilcox's case against her dismissal.
Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin joined Raoul and Ellison in this latest filing.