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MSPB faces high workload, low staffing levels

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3 months ago

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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.

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Politics

Black Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle

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22 hours ago

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September 24, 2025

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Screencap of YouTube video.

A Black Lives Matter activist in Boston named Monica Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to federal charges this week, admitting that she scammed donors and used their money to fund her own lavish lifestyle.

Cannon-Grant was previously held up as an admired figure. The city of Boston named her the Bostonian of the year at one point for her ‘social justice activism’ and she was even recognized by the Boston Celtics basketball team for her efforts.

She is now facing a minimum of two years in prison.

The New York Post reports:

BLM-linked activist admits conning donors to fund her lavish lifestyle

A once-celebrated Boston social activist has pleaded guilty to defrauding donors — including Black Lives Matter — out of thousands of dollars that she used as a personal piggy bank.

Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, pleaded guilty Monday to 18 counts of fraud-related crimes that she committed with her late husband while operating their Violence in Boston (VIB) activists group, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

The activist scammed money — including $3,000 from a BLM group — while claiming it was to help feed children and run protests like one in 2020 over the murder of George Floyd and police violence.

Cannon-Grant also conned her way into getting $100,000 in federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits — which she used to pay off her personal auto loan and car insurance policy.

But she has now confessed to transferring funds to personal bank accounts to pay for rent, shopping sprees, delivery meals, visits to a nail salon — and even a summer vacation to Maryland.

Just amazing.

Here’s a local video report:

She should pay back every penny.

The post Black Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Keith Olbermann Backpedals Furiously With Apology for Threatening CNN’s Scott Jennings – Jennings Responds (VIDEO)

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22 hours ago

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September 24, 2025

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As the Gateway Pundit reported yesterday, former MSNBC host and generally unhinged leftist Keith Olbermann, appeared to threaten CNN’s conservative pundit Scott Jennings on Twitter saying, ‘You’re next motherf**ker.’

Well, Olbermann may have gotten a phone call or a visit from the FBI because today he walked back those comments with a full-throated apology.

RedState has an update:

To quickly recap, Scott Jennings, a Salem Media Network radio host and conservative CNN political commentator, reacted to breaking news on Monday that Kimmel had been reinstated by tweeting, “So basically his employer suspended him for being an insensitive pr**k, and we don’t live in an authoritarian regime? Got it.”

This enraged Olbermann, who proceeded to tweet what many, including Jennings, perceived to be a threat. “You’re next, motherf**ker. But keep mugging to the camera.” Jennings tagged Patel and included a screengrab of the tweets in response.

Though the FBI hasn’t commented as to whether an investigation was launched, Olbermann ostensibly appears to have thought twice about what he tweeted and deleted, apologizing profusely in tweets posted on Tuesday and claiming what he wrote was “misinterpreted”:

See Olbermann’s tweet below:

Scott Jennings, always a class act, offered this hilarious response:

Keith Olbermann really needs help. The guy is just so out of control.

The post Keith Olbermann Backpedals Furiously With Apology for Threatening CNN’s Scott Jennings – Jennings Responds (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Where is Lance Twiggs? Kirk Assassin’s Transgender Lover Has Vanished

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22 hours ago

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September 24, 2025

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Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson and roommate Lance Twiggs

Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson lived with his transgender partner – a male-to-female trans named Lance “Luna” Twiggs.

The FBI used Robinson’s texts with his transgender partner to solidify that Robinson was the assassin. Lance Twiggs has not been charged with any crime; however, federal authorities are still investigating.

Last week, Utah authorities released the text exchange between Tyler Robinson and his transgender lover, Lance Twiggs, sent shortly after Kirk’s assassination.

Utah County District Attorney Jeff Gray announced seven charges against Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson. They will also be seeking the death penalty.

Robinson was charged with:

– Count 1: Aggravated murder (capital offense)
– Count 2: Felony reckless discharge of a firearm causing bodily injury
– Count 3: Felony obstruction of justice for hiding the firearm
– Count 4: Felony obstruction of justice for discarding the clothing he wore during the shooting
– Count 5: Witness tampering for asking roommate to delete incriminating messages
– Count 6: Witness temperating for demanding trans roommate stay silent, and not speak to police
– Count 7: Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child

Jeff Gray released the chilling texts between Tyler Robinson and his “love” Lance Twiggs.

Read the text exchange here:

Tyler Robinson texts with transgender lover Lance Twiggs / 1
Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson texts with transgender lover Lance Twiggs / 2

Lance Twiggs was reportedly cooperating with the FBI, however, according to the Daily Mail he has seemingly vanished.

“If [Lance Twiggs] ever comes back, it will be in a body bag,” a neighbor said to the Daily Mail. “That’s not a threat – I’m just saying that there are so many people who want a piece of him he’d be mad to show his face in public again. This was a generational event.”

The Daily Mail reported:

The Trans boyfriend of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin has fled their former lovenest – and locals tell the Daily Mail they never want to see him again.

Lance Twiggs, 22, was led away for questioning when police swooped on the smart three-bed condo he shared with accused gunman Tyler Robinson, 22.

Shaken neighbors say the part time plumber has not been back to the $320,000 property in St. George, Utah – one declaring: ‘Good riddance. I never want to see either of them again.’

His beaten-up Infinity compact is still parked in his space with his work gear tossed across the back seat and a sandwich wrapper and a drink on the front passenger seat.

Upstairs lights have been left on for more than a week and notes and Amazon packages are piling up outside the home owned by Twiggs’s devout Mormon family.

The post Where is Lance Twiggs? Kirk Assassin’s Transgender Lover Has Vanished appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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