Samuels Challenges Firing as Supreme Court Eyes Agency Independence
On April 9, former Vice Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Jocelyn Samuels filed a federal lawsuit challenging her dismissal by President Donald Trump, claiming it was unlawful. Samuels, who was appointed by then-President Joe Biden to serve until August 2026, is among several members of independent federal agencies who have contested their abrupt removal by Trump.
In her complaint, Samuels argued that Congress established the EEOC under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a bipartisan, multi-member, independent body of experts. She noted that Congress protected the EEOC’s independence by limiting the number of commissioners from the same political party who could serve at the same time to three—and by staggering their five-year terms.
Charlotte Burrows, another Democratic EEOC member and former chair, was also dismissed. As of this writing, however, she has not filed suit or joined Samuels’ legal challenge.
The U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately weigh in on these issues, including the recent case of former National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Gwynne Wilcox, who also challenged her removal by the President. On April 9, the high court overturned a D.C. Circuit order that would have reinstated Wilcox during ongoing litigation.
The Supreme Court appears poised to take up the matter and may revisit precedent in evaluating the legality of these dismissals.
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