Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LABOR NEWS—AFGE and allies create Legal Defense Network for federal workers displaced by Trump administration, (Apr 18, 2025)
Organizations Mentioned:AFL-CIO | American Federation of Government Employees | National Treasury Employees Union
By Patricia K. Ruiz, J.D.
The Legal Defense Network urged workers not to delay seeking assistance, as many types of legal claims and appeals have deadlines as short as 30 days.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other labor movement allies announced the formation of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, a new project to provide free legal support to federal workers impacted by the actions of the Trump administration. The Legal Defense Network will mobilize and train lawyers who will provide up to one hour of free legal consultation to displaced federal workers.
Legal Defense Network. The Legal Defense Network will mobilize and train thousands of lawyers who will provide pro bono legal guidance to displaced federal workers. Federal workers, thousands of whom have been abruptly fired due to the actions of the Trump administration, urgently need legal support, according to a press release from the AFGE, and the need for legal support will escalate as the administration’s plans for reductions in force go into effect. While federal workers’ unions and allied organizations are challenging the administration’s actions in court, individual federal workers still require legal advice and representation.
The Legal Defense Network was formed by the AFL-CIO and We The Action, along with Democracy Forward, the AFGE, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the American Constitution Society (ACS), the Partnership for Public Service, and other labor movement allies.
Obtaining support. Federal workers seeking support may do so through the Legal Defense Network website, which urges workers not to delay in reaching out, as many types of legal claims and appeals have deadlines, with some as short as 30 days after an action such as a termination or reduction in force. Following a short screening conversation, depending on the specifics of each worker’s situation and the availability of lawyers in the network, the Legal Defense Network may offer a free consultation lasting up to one hour. During the consultation, workers may discuss their situation in more detail, explore options, ask specific questions about forms or documents, or request assistance in completing such documents. If a worker and the lawyer they spoke to wish to work together further, the worker must agree on terms directly with that attorney, and any additional services offered may be free, at reduced cost, or at their normal billing rate.
“Labor rights are civil rights and workers deserve dignity and fairness, including federal workers who serve us all,” said Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Maya Wiley. “The Leadership Conference, a coalition of more than 240 diverse national organizations, is dedicated to protecting, advocating for, and enforcing civil rights for everyone. We will not remain silent, and we will not stand by while this administration—or anyone else—violates the civil and constitutional rights of the people who keep our communities and our country functioning.”
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