Politics
MSPB faces high workload, low staffing levels

Federal employees turned in droves to the Merit Systems Protection Board at the height of the Trump administration’s workforce upheavals earlier this year, but those employees will likely be waiting longer than usual to see their cases processed.
Administrative judges at MSPB, who adjudicate appeals from federal employees alleging prohibited personnel practices, have seen a flood of new cases land on their dockets, causing their caseloads to increase by the week. Since President Donald Trump took office, the average weekly number of new appeals has risen to roughly 468 — compared with an average of 96 weekly appeals federal employees were filing in the final few months of 2024.
A spokesperson for MSPB said the agency’s administrative judges are continuing to adjudicate cases and issue initial decisions at a “steady pace” at regional and field offices across the country. But at the same time that MSPB is experiencing its highest case volume in recent memory, the agency is also facing its lowest staffing levels in years.
“We anticipate these factors will impact case processing times,” an MSPB spokesperson told Federal News Network.
Nearly 12,000 federal employees have filed appeals with MSPB so far in fiscal 2025. Over 10,000 of those appeals were submitted after Trump took office. The vast majority of this year’s MSPB appeals arose during a one-month span between February and March, as the governmentwide firings of probationary federal employees took place.
Weekly cases received at MSPB, October 2024-June 2025. (Source: Merit Systems Protection Board)
There are still a few months left until the end of the fiscal year, but the some 12,000 appeals have already put MSPB at more than double the number of cases it typically sees annually. In 2024, MSPB received a total of 5,677 appeals for the entire year.
Some of the employee appeals from February and March, however, may no longer be relevant as many of the initial MSPB appeals have been enjoined or stayed by federal courts. In one case, a group of feds fired from the Department of Homeland Security was granted class certification.
Still, as MSPB administrative judges continue to work through the massive caseload, another spike of appeals likely lies ahead, according to Suzanne Summerlin, general counsel for the Federal Workers Legal Defense Project.
“MSPB is struggling to process this crush of a caseload now, and I think it will continue to struggle if the Trump administration actually starts targeting the agency and its employees with reductions in force,” Summerlin said in an interview. “MSPB was not designed to handle a wholesale winding down of the federal government.”
Governmentwide, the future of agency RIFs remain uncertain. A Supreme Court ruling last month determined that nationwide injunctions from federal district courts “likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted” to those courts. But the recent decision likely won’t allow agency layoffs to continue across government, as RIFs remain indefinitely barred under a preliminary injunction.
“But if we see those injunctions lift, and we see that agencies are allowed to go ahead with these reorganizations — before the question is answered of whether these reorganizations are even legal — then we’re going to see a huge influx of cases again at the MSPB,” Summerlin said. “A lot of people are going to lose their jobs, and a lot of people are going to need to file to get help.”
Efforts to provide additional legal support to feds, such as the Federal Workers Legal Defense Project, emerged earlier this year after organizations saw a gap in the ability for the “normal support system,” including MSPB to manage the high volume of cases.
Much like the Federal Labor Relations Authority and other small agencies that deal with federal sector employment rights, Summerlin said “MSPB has been underfunded and cut to the bone for decades.”
Staffing levels at MSPB have been steadily declining for years. In fiscal 2018, MSPB had the capacity to staff 214 full-time employees. As of June 2025, that number is down to 174.
Data source: Merit Systems Protection Board. Chart created by Federal News Network.
MSPB’s staffing capacity will likely decrease further by the start of fiscal 2026. The agency projected that it would have 171 full-time equivalents (FTEs) by Oct. 1. In its 2026 congressional budget justification, MSPB said it hasn’t been able to fill critical vacancies and instead is only able to hire “on a prorated basis where the need is greatest at any given time.”
On top of those challenges, MSPB also continues to operate without a quorum of its three-member board, limiting some of the work the agency is able to accomplish. Henry Kerner, a Republican, is currently serving as the board’s only member. He was sworn into his position in June 2024 and became acting chairman of the board earlier this year.
The lack of a quorum began April 9 spurred by Trump’s termination of MSPB member Cathy Harris, a Democrat. Harris sued over her termination, and although she was initially reinstated, she was later removed again after an appeals court decision. The Supreme Court then upheld Trump’s firing of Harris and declined to reinstate her at MSPB.
The vast majority of MSPB’s operations can continue without a quorum of the board through the work of administrative judges and other MSPB staff members. But some specific actions at MSPB cannot be finalized until a quorum is restored.
Specifically, when a federal employee or an agency disagrees with the decision an administrative judge has issued on an appeal, either party can request a “petition for review” and have the case brought up to the MSPB’s three-member panel — and that’s where the work most noticeably stalls. When there is a loss of quorum at MSPB, the board cannot issue final decisions on petitions for review, and the cases will remain open until quorum is restored and a decision can be issued.
A restoration of a quorum at MSPB, however, may be drawing nearer. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced Trump’s MSPB nominee, James Woodruff II, along party lines on June 30. If he’s confirmed, Woodruff will take the board seat left vacant by MSPB member Raymond Limon, who retired from the position in late February.
“I am honored that President Donald J. Trump nominated me for to fill the position of member of the Merit Systems Protection Board,” Woodruff wrote in June 5 testimony for HSGAC. “If confirmed, I look forward to the opportunity to work closely with the other board member, Henry Kerner, to protect the federal civil services’ merit-based system.”
The post MSPB faces high workload, low staffing levels first appeared on Federal News Network.
Politics
RFK Jr. Drops a Mega Bombshell on mRNA Vaccine Technology (VIDEO)

This article originally appeared on vigilantfox.com and was republished with permission.
In a move that many were hoping for but were not expecting, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy just announced that BARDA will be CANCELING 22 mRNA vaccine development contracts, saving taxpayers about $500 million in the process.
This move delivered a major blow to the biomedical industrial complex, which was hoping to make an mRNA vaccine for just about every disease imaginable.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/foxs-video-aug-5-2025-veed-3.mp4
The reason for this move is grounded in what happened during the COVID debacle, which Kennedy explained in detail.
First, he shared how “mRNA vaccines don’t perform well against viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract.”
“mRNA only codes for a small part of the viral proteins, usually a single antigen. One mutation, and the vaccine becomes INEFFECTIVE,” Kennedy said.
The next revelation was a big surprise.
Kennedy confirmed that the COVID shots could have CAUSED the mutations and EXTENDED the pandemic altogether.
He explained:
“The [mRNA] vaccine [platform] paradoxically encourages new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics. As the virus constantly mutates to escape the protective effects of the vaccine, millions of people, maybe even you or someone you know, caught the Omicron variant despite being vaccinated. That’s because a single mutation can make mRNA vaccines ineffective.”
Kennedy’s comments echo what vaccinologist Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche and the “conspiracy theorists” have been saying for the better part of four years now.
He warned, “You are generating a breeding ground for even more infectious variants to replicate” when you vaccinate DURING a pandemic.
With the conclusion that mRNA shots are ineffective against respiratory viruses, prolong pandemics, and encourage mutations, Kennedy declared:
“mRNA technology poses MORE risk than benefits for these respiratory viruses.”
As such, Kennedy announced that BARDA (Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) will be CANCELING 22 mRNA vaccine contracts, saving taxpayers “just under $500 million” in the process.

He clarified that this isn’t a complete indictment of mRNA technology across the board, but when it comes to respiratory diseases, he believes it offers no benefit to humanity.
“That’s why we’re moving beyond the limitations of mRNA for respiratory viruses and investing in better solutions,” Kennedy said.

Thanks for reading! I hope this brought you the good news you needed today.
I was banned from Twitter 1.0 three times for sharing information that Kennedy just confirmed.
Like many others, I was labeled a “conspiracy theorist.” Turns out, we were right all along.
Image: Wikipedia Commons
Find more stories like this at VigilantFox.com
The post RFK Jr. Drops a Mega Bombshell on mRNA Vaccine Technology (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Marjorie Taylor Greene Unloads on the GOP, H1B Immigration, Foreign Aid to Ukraine, Israel

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has publicly criticized President Donald Trump over immigration policy and foreign aid.
Greene responded to Trump’s tariff announcement on India by urging an end to H1-B visas that she claims replace American jobs. Greene also called for stopping funding and weapons to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Greene stated that continued U.S. funding for Kiev betrays the majority of Americans who voted to end foreign wars.
She highlighted Trump’s 2024 election win as a mandate against such involvement. The congresswoman warned that supporting these policies risks losing younger voters permanently.
On the Israel-Gaza conflict, Greene described Israel’s actions as a “genocide” and condemned the starvation in Gaza. She became the first Republican lawmaker to use this term publicly.
Greene emphasized that innocent Palestinian lives, including children and Christians, should not be devalued compared to Israeli ones.
Greene expressed surprise that more conservative colleagues have not spoken out against U.S. support for Israel’s offensive operations.
She argued that funding such wars contradicts a biblical mandate and America’s interests.
The congresswoman clarified her support for Israel’s existence while opposing involvement in its conflicts.
Trump has acknowledged the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting visible starvation among children despite Netanyahu’s denials.
He mentioned his wife Melania’s distress over images from the region. This marks a softening in Trump’s stance amid ongoing hostilities nearing two years.
Greene’s positions reflect broader shifts in U.S. opinion, with approval of Israel’s Gaza actions dropping to 32 percent per Gallup polls.
Republicans under 50 now view Israel more negatively than positively, according to Pew surveys.
Figures like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson have also criticized Netanyahu’s government.
The congresswoman has voiced growing frustration with the Republican Party’s direction. She questioned whether the GOP is leaving her or if she no longer relates to it.
Greene stated she does not want involvement in the party’s current course on foreign policy and spending.
3Greene warned Trump about delivering on promises like Epstein file transparency to retain base support. She referenced past divergences, including on AI policy in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” Despite these splits, Greene affirmed her commitment to America First principles.
Greene suggested her political future may not rely on party establishment backing. She expressed confidence in winning support from Georgia voters independently. However, the congresswoman indicated no plans for higher office in 2026.
The post Marjorie Taylor Greene Unloads on the GOP, H1B Immigration, Foreign Aid to Ukraine, Israel appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Politics
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Files Emergency Petition with Supreme Court to REMOVE Democrat Ringleader Who Fled State to Obstruct Redistricting Vote

State Rep. Gene Wu
Governor Greg Abbott has officially filed an emergency writ of quo warranto with the Texas Supreme Court, seeking the removal of far-left Democrat State Representative Gene Wu from office for abandoning his constitutional duties and fleeing the state in a premeditated scheme to block a GOP-led vote.
According to the explosive 70-page filing, Rep. Wu—Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus—was the ringleader of a carefully orchestrated plan that saw dozens of Democrat lawmakers hop aboard a 76-seat private jet, funded in part by Beto O’Rourke’s political action committee, to escape to Chicago rather than perform their duty during a constitutionally mandated special legislative session.
The petition alleges that Wu and his fellow Democrats deliberately broke quorum to sabotage redistricting reforms and kill flood relief, property tax relief, and school reform legislation, critical priorities for Texans.
“If representatives are free not to show up whenever they choose, then Texans simply do not have a representative government,” the petition reads.
“In fact, they don’t have a functioning government at all. This Court should make clear that a legislator who does not wish to perform his duties will be stripped of them.”
The petition reveals that Wu not only left the state, but actively solicited donations online to help cover fines and expenses—funding his absence with cash from liberal donors.
The document accuses him of potentially violating Texas bribery laws and the state constitution, citing provisions that require forfeiture of office if an official accepts anything of value to withhold their vote.
Wu posted pictures boarding the jet on X, while simultaneously asking followers to “Support Texas House Democrats as we deny quorum.” One image was immediately followed by a donation link.
According to the petition, Beto O’Rourke’s PAC offered to cover the cost of the trip and committed all future donations to lawmakers who fled the state.
Support Texas House Democrats as we deny quorum.
Donate below:@TexasHDC #txlege https://t.co/xw2Z4pF2zO— Gene Wu (@GeneforTexas) August 3, 2025
The petition concludes:
This case is not a political dispute; it is a constitutional crisis. The current Special Session is set to expire in just two weeks. But Wu apparently has no intention of returning. Instead, he claims the “special session is over.” Permitting him to continue occupying his office so that he can abdicate the duties of that office will only enable future legislators to grind state government to a halt.
Perhaps these absent members expect—someday—to return to Texas and be hailed as heroes who “fought” by fleeing. But in the meantime, they are preventing the Texas Legislature, duly called by the Governor, from addressing the acute needs of Texans across the State.
Every day, their continued absence wastes taxpayer dollars and imperils urgent policy needs, ranging from improved flood response tools to the judicial omnibus bill governing the day-to-day workings of the state courts.
And, in the future, whenever the Governor adds an item on the special session agenda that they find offensive, they may feel empowered to once again flee the State and deny the Article III, Section 5 constitutional mandate. Absent quo warranto, there is no end in sight to this piracy.
The Constitution nowhere envisions Texans signing onto that kind of suicide pact. Legislators may, of course, disagree on specific pieces of legislation.
But our Constitution conceives of deliberation and debate as the official way to process official disagreements. That is why, in addition to laying out general principles for the order of business, the Constitution imposes mandatory duties on members to ensure they will be present to conduct business.
Representative government cannot function if elected officials may monetize their absence, abandon their obligations, and paralyze the Legislature without consequence.
The writ of quo warranto exists precisely to remedy such abuses. And there is still time for this Court to use it here. Ordering Wu’s removal from office would ensure that public office remains a trust exercised in good faith, as opposed to a platform for private gain and governmental sabotage.
It could also begin to make it easier to establish a quorum while the Special Session is still under way. Above all, however, it promises to restrain future abuses. Refusing to address the problem now may simply invite it to recur, always in the final days of a session.
The integrity of Texas’s constitutional order demands this Court’s urgent intervention, and Texas voters are counting on it.
The post Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Files Emergency Petition with Supreme Court to REMOVE Democrat Ringleader Who Fled State to Obstruct Redistricting Vote appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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