PEER has filed a lawsuit in federal district court to protect the First Amendment rights of federal employees just as the Trump administration embarks on an unprecedented attack on federal workers’ free speech rights.
The case arose late in the Biden administration, when a federal employee for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Carolyn McConnell, was investigated for engaging in environmental advocacy work on behalf of a non-profit environmental group on her personal time and without ever mentioning she worked for the NLRB.
Even though McConnell’s advocacy was completely unrelated to her work for the NLRB, government officials nonetheless referred her case for criminal prosecution under a federal conflict of interest law.
NLRB’s misreading of the law threatens federal employees’ rights to free speech, freedom of association, and the ability to petition the government, especially with the current administration’s assault on the rights of federal workers.
You can read more about our lawsuit here, and learn why it is so important that the court grant the relief we are seeking in this case.
Sincerely,
Tim Whitehouse
Executive Director
P.S. I’d like to thank the many of you who have kindly chipped in a little extra to support our growing workload fighting for public employees. Your generosity has not gone unnoticed and is greatly appreciated. If you have not yet given or would like to make an extra donation, you may do so here.
Take Action Now
People across the country are angry at the Trump-Doge team’s illegal assaults on the federal workforce. In these unprecedented times, it is important that Congress repeatedly hear from their constituents about how the Trump administration’s actions are affecting people nationwide. That is why we have launched a series of petitions and letter writing campaigns.
- Tell Congress: End the Musk-trump Takeover of NOAA
- Tell Congress: Stop the Senseless Firing of Government Employees
- Petition: Tell DOI to Rehire Vital National Park Service Employees
We hope you will sign them and share them with friends.
Park Service Guidance Misses the Mark
PEER and Wilderness Watch have submitted comments to the National Park Service expressing concerns that the park service’s proposed guidance on mobility devices, such as hoverboards, e-scooters and Segways gives insufficient protection for park resources. Read More»
