Unions sue over Trump's 'illegal' plan to fire many federal workers in a shutdown

WASHINGTON — Two unions have sued the Trump administration over its plans to fire federal workers during the impending government shutdown, alleging that the "unlawful threats" were contrary to the law and should be declared unlawful by a federal court in San Francisco.

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"These actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious, and the cynical use of federal employees as a pawn in Congressional deliberations should be declared unlawful and enjoined by this Court," alleges the lawsuit, filed hours ahead of the shutdown.

The suit, which was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, involves the groups Democracy Forward and the State Democracy Defenders Fund. The court docket did not immediately reflect which judge would handle the case, which names Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought as a defendant.

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Government heads toward shutdown as lawmakers fail to reach agreement

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AFGE National President Everett Kelley said that announcing plans to "fire potentially tens of thousands of federal employees simply because Congress and the administration are at odds on funding the government past the end of the fiscal year is not only illegal — it’s immoral and unconscionable,” adding that more than one-third of federal employees are military veterans.

The White House has laid the groundwork to fire federal employees in case of a shutdown, but it has not outlined specific plans or how many might be targeted. Vought's OMB recently issued a memo urging federal agencies to consider firing employees if the government shuts down. Asked Tuesday morning how many he would lay off, President Donald Trump said, "We may do a lot," while blaming Democrats for a shutdown.

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Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman said Trump is "using the civil service as a bargaining chip as he marches the American people into a government shutdown."

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.