Fact Check: In May 2025, the Supreme Court declined to reinstate two members of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board that Trump had fired.

Fact Check: "In May 2025, the Supreme Court declined to reinstate two members of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board that Trump had fired."

What We Know

In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision regarding the firings of Gwynne A. Wilcox and Cathy A. Harris, members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), respectively. The Court granted an emergency request from the Trump administration to stay lower court orders that had reinstated these members after their dismissal (NPR, 2025) [source-2]. This decision allowed Trump to maintain the firings while the legal proceedings continued, indicating that the Court did not decline to reinstate the members but rather upheld the administration's actions temporarily.

The Supreme Court's ruling was part of a broader legal context concerning the president's authority to fire members of independent agencies, which has been a contentious issue. The decision was made with a 6-3 majority, reflecting the conservative tilt of the Court (New York Times, 2025) [source-5].

Analysis

The claim that the Supreme Court "declined to reinstate" the two members is misleading. The Court's action was not a refusal to reinstate them but a temporary stay of the lower court's orders that had reinstated them. This nuance is crucial; the Supreme Court's decision effectively allowed the Trump administration to continue with the firings while the case was still under legal consideration (GovExec, 2025) [source-3].

The sources reporting on this event, including NPR and the New York Times, are reputable and provide a clear account of the Court's actions. NPR, for instance, detailed the implications of the ruling and the context surrounding the independent agencies involved (NPR, 2025) [source-2]. The New York Times also provided insights into the broader legal ramifications of the decision, emphasizing the ongoing debate about presidential powers over independent agencies (New York Times, 2025) [source-5].

However, it is essential to note that the claim's wording suggests a finality that does not exist; the Supreme Court's decision was a temporary measure, and the legal battle was still ongoing at that time (Reuters, 2025) [source-4].

Conclusion

The claim that "In May 2025, the Supreme Court declined to reinstate two members of the National Labor Relations Board and the Merit Systems Protection Board that Trump had fired" is False. The Supreme Court did not decline to reinstate the members; instead, it granted a stay of the reinstatement orders, allowing the Trump administration to maintain the firings while the case was still being litigated. This distinction is critical in understanding the Court's actions and the ongoing legal context.

Sources

1. PDF Supreme Court of The United States
2. Supreme Court allows Trump to fire members of independent agency boards ...
3. Supreme Court allows Trump to fire federal employee ...
4. US Supreme Court lets Trump keep labor board members ...
5. Supreme Court Lets Trump, for Now, Remove Agency Leaders
6. Supreme Court allows Trump firings from national labor boards
7. NLRB Stalemate Continues: Supreme Court Keeps Wilcox ... - Labor Relations