Story perspectives

NLRB Crisis Deepens as Court Rules Structure Unconstitutional

12/16/2025

Summary

NLRB Crisis Unfolds

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has operated with only one member for months, delaying major labor cases.
Former chairwoman Lauren McFerran described the crisis.
A ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit deemed the NLRB's structure unconstitutional.
The ruling leaves labor law unenforceable in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to lower borrowing costs by appointing a new Federal Reserve chair, but the Fed's divisions have not produced unanimous support for rate cuts.

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History

Historical Context

The 2019 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit deemed the National Labor Relations Board's structure unconstitutional, impacting labor law enforcement in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This decision followed a trend of regulatory changes under the Trump administration, which shifted labor rights dynamics, echoing historical struggles over worker representation and potentially undermining workers' rights in the region.

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NLRB Crisis Unfolds

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has operated with only one member for months, delaying major labor cases.
Former chairwoman Lauren McFerran described the crisis.
A ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit deemed the NLRB's structure unconstitutional.
The ruling leaves labor law unenforceable in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to lower borrowing costs by appointing a new Federal Reserve chair, but the Fed's divisions have not produced unanimous support for rate cuts.

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