Company Directory - Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
Company Details - Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
WebsiteWashington, D.C., United States
An independent agency that protects federal employees from unfair dismissal and ensures merit system principles.
CCI Score
CCI Score: Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
52.52
-0.03%
Latest Event
MSPB Faces Authoritarian Power Grab Attempt
The Supreme Court is reviewing Trump v. Wilcox, a case in which President Trump’s attempt to seize control of the Merit Systems Protection Board by dismissing its officials threatens the agency’s independence and its mandate to protect federal employees against politically motivated firings.
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LEADER
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is currently rated as a Leader.
Latest Events
- APR152025
The Supreme Court is reviewing Trump v. Wilcox, a case in which President Trump’s attempt to seize control of the Merit Systems Protection Board by dismissing its officials threatens the agency’s independence and its mandate to protect federal employees against politically motivated firings.
- APR072025
A federal appeals court halted President Trump's politically motivated dismissal of Democratic board member Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board, ensuring the agency's independent and merit-based functioning amidst a broader partisan purge of federal labor board members.
+80
Public and Political Behavior
April 15
The ruling reinforces the autonomy and merit-based principles of the MSPB by protecting it from politically driven firings. This decision is a positive anti-authoritarian action that defends federal employees against partisan retribution and upholds democratic norms, aligning with progressive labor protections and resistance against authoritarian influences.
Appeals court blocks Trump's firings of Democrats on labor boards
- APR072025
A divided D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed Trump's decision to dismiss MSPB member Cathy Harris, reinstating her and affirming the legal protections that independent federal agencies offer against arbitrary executive actions.
+80
Public and Political Behavior
April 15
The court's decision reinforces checks on executive overreach, ensuring that independent agencies like MSPB uphold merit system principles. This event strongly supports democratic norms by resisting authoritarian dismissal practices.
D.C. Appeals Court Reverses Trump Firing 2 Independent Federal Board Members
+70
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
April 15
By reinstating an MSPB board member who was wrongfully dismissed, the ruling upholds fair labor practices and protects workers against punitive, politically motivated dismissals, thereby strengthening worker rights.
D.C. Appeals Court Reverses Trump Firing 2 Independent Federal Board Members
- MAR042025
Amid mounting political pressure from the Trump administration to downsize the federal workforce, the Merit Systems Protection Board is set to decide on a request by the Office of Special Counsel to reinstate over 5,000 probationary federal employees. The decision comes in the context of legal challenges against politically motivated dismissals, including an attempted removal of board member Cathy Harris.
+70
Public and Political Behavior
April 15
The MSPB’s potential action to reinstate dismissed federal employees and its resistance to politically motivated actions, including the attempted firing of board member Cathy Harris, reflects a strong commitment to upholding merit system principles and defending workers' rights. This stands as a clear pushback against authoritarian interference in federal workforce management.
Government watchdog wants thousands of federal workers to be reinstated
- FEB252025
In February 2025, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board received an unprecedented 1,845 new cases from federal employees alleging wrongful terminations and politicized dismissals under the Trump administration. The surge is straining the board’s capacity to process appeals in a timely manner, highlighting the challenges faced by this key institution charged with protecting fair treatment and merit system principles in the federal workforce.
+40
Public and Political Behavior
April 15
The MSPB’s core mandate to safeguard federal workers from politically motivated dismissals underlines its vital role in upholding democratic and non-partisan employment practices. Despite being overwhelmed by a surge in appeals—a situation driven by external, politically charged dismissals—the agency remains a crucial counterforce to authoritarian impulses in the public sector.
Case surge from fired federal workers jams federal board - CBS News
+50
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
April 15
By serving as the primary recourse for federal employees subjected to unfair and politicized terminations, the MSPB demonstrates a strong commitment to labor rights and human dignity. This protective role is essential in countering authoritarian measures that target public servants, even as the current backlog signals operational challenges imposed by external political pressures.
Case surge from fired federal workers jams federal board - CBS News
- FEB212025
The U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board has experienced an increase in appeals as federal employees impacted by the Trump administration's workforce reductions seek to contest dismissals, reinforcing merit system principles and labor protections.
+75
Public and Political Behavior
April 15
The MSPB is acting in a politically significant manner by ensuring that federal employees have recourse to appeal politically motivated layoffs under the Trump administration. This reinforces merit system principles and acts as a countermeasure against authoritarian trends.
US Merit Systems Protection Board sees ‘uptick in appeals’ amid fed layoffs
+60
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
April 15
By handling a surge in appeals from federal workers facing potentially unjust dismissals and political discrimination, MSPB reinforces worker rights and anti-discrimination practices, offering a bulwark against authoritarian employment practices.
US Merit Systems Protection Board sees ‘uptick in appeals’ amid fed layoffs
- FEB182025
A federal judge invalidated President Trump's attempt to fire MSPB Chair Cathy Harris, affirming the agency's statutory protections and independence from politically motivated removals.
+80
Executive Political Engagement
April 15
The court ruling reinforces the legal safeguards ensuring that independent agency leaders, like MSPB Chair Cathy Harris, remain insulated from politically motivated removals. This decision upholds merit system principles and protects federal employees from authoritarian overreach, marking a strong anti-authoritarian stance.
- FEB122025
On February 12, 2025, the White House terminated MSPB Chairwoman Cathy Harris, appointed Henry Kerner as acting chairman, and demoted Vice Chairman Ray Limon, actions that raise concerns about political interference in an agency mandated to protect federal employees and merit-based practices.
-75
Executive Political Engagement
April 15
The removal of Chairwoman Cathy Harris and the demotion of Vice Chairman Ray Limon by the White House significantly undermine the independence of the MSPB, an agency established to safeguard merit-based employment protections. This politically driven change can be interpreted as aligning with authoritarian interference, weakening the agency’s ability to protect federal employees against unfair dismissals.
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Industries
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- Executive Offices
- 922190
- Other Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities
- 923120
- Administration of Public Health Programs