Common Defense Joins a Coalition of Unions, Small Businesses, Veterans, and Conservation Organizations Seeking Injunction to Prevent Unlawful Firings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2025

PRESS CONTACT: press@commondefense.us

Amended Complaint also Targets Illegal “Five Things” Email

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the weekend, Common Defense and a powerful coalition of public service unions, small businesses, veterans, and conservation organizations filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the unlawful mass terminations of probationary employees. The coalition has filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its Acting Director, Charles Ezell, to prevent these mass firings, which plaintiffs describe as "one of the most massive employment frauds in U.S. history."

The plaintiffs in this case consist of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the Main Street Alliance; the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks; Common Defense Civic Engagement; the Western Watersheds Project; AFGE Local 1216; AFGE Local 2110; VoteVets; CommonDefense.us; and United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). They are represented by the law firm of Altshuler Berzon LLP and the State Democracy Defenders Fund (SDDF). 

Common Defense’s Executive Director, Jose Vasquez, issued the following statement: “This administration’s mass firings are a direct attack on the working people who have dedicated their lives to public service, including thousands of veterans. These reckless terminations threaten their livelihoods, their families, and their ability to continue serving their country, but the harm doesn’t stop there. Working families across the country could suffer from cuts to essential government services, whether it’s VA hospitals, disaster relief, or public safety. This is not just bureaucratic mismanagement, it’s an assault on our nation from within. Common Defense stands with our fellow plaintiffs to demand an immediate stop to this unlawful purge and to defend the veterans, military families, and public servants who keep our government running." 

The TRO motion is available here.

The memorandum in support of the TRO is available here.

The proposed TRO order is available here.

The amended complaint is available here.

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Common Defense Civic Engagement is a grassroots, veteran-led organization (501c4) that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing more than 800,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.

The Main Street Alliance champions the voices of small business owners to create a thriving economy. We cultivate a network of entrepreneurs, connecting them with resources to build sustainable enterprises. Our membership drives state and federal policymaking that gives a fair shot to small businesses and strengthens communities nationwide.

The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks represents over 3,400 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service, with over 50,000 collective years of stewardship of America’s most precious natural and cultural resources. More information can be found at protectnps.org.

Western Watersheds Project is a unionized nonprofit conservation group dedicated to protecting and restoring wildlife and watersheds throughout the American West.

VoteVets uses public issue campaigns to relentlessly lift up the voices of veterans on matters of national security, veterans’ care, and everyday issues that affect the lives of those who served, and their families.

Altshuler Berzon LLP is a California law firm that  focuses on providing legal representation in the service of economic justice and the public interest. The law firm represents clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts and before administrative agencies.

State Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.