Washington, D.C. | March 4, 2025 – In a landmark decision, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ruled that the attempted removal of Cathy A. Harris, Chair of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), was unlawful.
District Judge Rudolph Contreras granted Harris’s motion for summary judgment, finding that her removal by the Trump administration violated federal law. The ruling reaffirms the independence of the MSPB and upholds critical protections for federal whistleblowers.
The MSPB serves a vital role in safeguarding federal employees and whistleblowers from unlawful retaliation, ensuring that government workers who expose corruption, abuse, and misconduct are protected under the law. Without a functioning MSPB, whistleblowers would have no recourse to challenge wrongful terminations or retaliatory actions.
Stephen M. Kohn, Chairman of the National Whistleblower Center and a leading whistleblower rights attorney, praised the decision. “The attempt to destroy the MSPB by firing its members was illegal and unprecedented. It was an attack on whistleblowers,” said Kohn. “The Court has done the right thing.”
Federal law states that MSPB board members can only be removed for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.” The administration, however, gave no reason for Harris’s termination, which the court determined to be unlawful. By blocking this action, the ruling preserves the MSPB’s ability to hear cases from whistleblowers and ensure that federal agencies follow the law when disciplining employees.
The decision is a major victory for whistleblower protections and reinforces the importance of independent oversight in the federal government.
Kohn emphasized the significance of the ruling: “Only the MSPB has the authority to issue relief when federal employees are fired in retaliation for blowing the whistle. This order will permit the Board to continue to function and uphold the law.”
Stephen M. Kohn is available for comment. For more information or to request an interview, contact NWC at info@whistleblowers.org.
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NWC is the leading nonprofit working with whistleblowers worldwide to fight corruption and protect people and the environment. For over 30 years, NWC has won policies to protect whistleblowers from retaliation and reward them for helping deliver criminal and civil penalties against wrongdoers. It is a trusted advocate for whistleblowers and a key player in the fight for government accountability and transparency.
