Melissa Greenberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
Politico reports that the Senate will likely vote to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, today. President Trump also appointed current National Labor Relations Board member Philip A. Miscimarra to serve as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. Miscimarra has been serving as acting chairman of the Board beginning in January 23, 2017. The National Law Review suggests that being named to this position “while largely administrative, may bode well for Miscimarra’s renomination to a new term.” His term expires in December of 2017.
Yesterday, President Donald Trump assured Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he would seek to renegotiate NAFTA rather than exit the agreement right away. The White House had indicated earlier on Wednesday that President Trump would sign an executive order officially withdrawing from the trade agreement. The New York Times suggested the initial White House announcement on withdrawal was “an example of Mr. Trump’s deal-making in real time.” Under NAFTA Article 2205, the United States must provide six months advanced warning before terminating the trade agreement. It remains unclear whether President Trump might still sign an executive order initiating withdrawal from the agreement at some point in order to begin the notification process and gain leverage in negotiations. Read more here.
In other news from the White House, President Donald Trump vowed to appeal an order by Judge William H. Orrick of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California. The order temporarily restrains the Administration from withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities. Although the federal government has yet to flesh-out the definition of a sanctuary city, the term is generally defined as a jurisdiction that does not fully cooperate with efforts by the federal government to enforce its immigration policy. Read more about the decision here.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
February 6
The California Supreme Court rules on an arbitration agreement, Trump administration announces new rule on civil service protections, and states modify affirmative action requirements
February 5
Minnesota schools and teachers sue to limit ICE presence near schools; labor leaders call on Newsom to protect workers from AI; UAW and Volkswagen reach a tentative agreement.
February 4
Lawsuit challenges Trump Gold Card; insurance coverage of fertility services; moratorium on layoffs for federal workers extended
February 3
In today’s news and commentary, Bloomberg reports on a drop in unionization, Starbucks challenges an NLRB ruling, and a federal judge blocks DHS termination of protections for Haitian migrants. Volatile economic conditions and a shifting political climate drove new union membership sharply lower in 2025, according to a Bloomberg Law report analyzing trends in labor […]
February 2
Amazon announces layoffs; Trump picks BLS commissioner; DOL authorizes supplemental H-2B visas.
February 1
The moratorium blocking the Trump Administration from implementing Reductions in Force (RIFs) against federal workers expires, and workers throughout the country protest to defund ICE.