Trump Administration Plans to Slash Labor Relations Board, Consolidate Power

Sources say the Trump administration is seeking to undercut the mission of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) with budget reductions and a proposed agency restructuring, reports Government Executive . Proposals from NLRB officials appointed by Trump would aim to centralize regional functions and downgrade regional employees' investigatory authority as they attempt to settle cases involving workforce representation and unfair labor practices. The board also plans to drastically trim its budget and workforce, and has imposed a hiring freeze. Employee advocates have told their leaders that these actions are demoralizing workers, and justifications of raising efficiency could conceal the actual intention of hobbling the NRLB. "Ultimately, whatever case-handling efficiency steps are adopted, they must be consistent with the mission of the 1935 National Labor Relations Act, which established the NLRB," said the committee of regional directors in a letter to NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb. "Adopting measures that result in efficient resolution of cases but contravenes the mission of the act is a hollow accomplishment." In addition, the NLRB Professional Association has warned the hiring freeze and other mandates would make the agency "significantly less effective" in fulfilling its mission and could undermine the will of Congress. "These cuts will have lasting, detrimental impacts that cannot be easily dispelled when the agency's funding is finalized," the group contends. "Indeed, as indicated, management will not even assure employees that it will restore the cuts if the agency is funded at its current level."