In a bold move that unites multiple jurisdictions and labor groups, the City of Chicago has stepped into the ring against the Trump Administration's sweeping dismissal of federal employees. According to a press release from the city's official website, the lawsuit claims that the President overstepped his constitutional boundaries by attempting to reorganize federal agencies without the go-ahead from Congress.
Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson was vocal about the city's stance, stating, "I am proud that Chicago is taking this stand with cities, counties, and workers from across the country." He expressed deep concern about the Trump Administration's plan, emphasizing its potential to significantly undermine the city's capacity to "keep residents and communities safe and healthy." Echoing the urgency of the situation, the lawsuit decries the President's Executive Order 14210 as unconstitutional, chafing against the separation of powers.
With the President's order already triggering effects, federal agencies that are instrumental in emergency services, public safety, environmental protection, and public health are facing the axe. The litany includes the potential dissolution of the National Weather Service and cuts to FEMA, which could spell a major setback for Chicago's disaster response, as well as a blow to the Environmental Protection Agency, troubling the city's ability to tackle environmental site contamination. The complaint also mentioned losses in DHHS funding that could hamper infectious disease response and resource allocation, a concern echoed by the Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry, who highlighted the threat to public safety and critical city services in a statement.
Not standing alone, Chicago's lawsuit garnered the support of a diverse coalition including labor unions like the AFGE and AFSCME, as well as the SEIU and its Local 1000. A variety of advocacy groups and other municipal and county governments have joined forces in the legal battle, demonstrating a united front in opposition to the Administration's actions. "This lawsuit demonstrates the City’s commitment to protect Chicagoans from the Trump Administration’s illegal actions," Deputy Corporation Counsel Stephen J. Kane told the press. The case, titled AFGE v. Trump, was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and includes parties from San Francisco to Baltimore, painting a picture of national concern over the executive order.
