Yesterday, the nation’s first and oldest union to represent civil service federal employees — the National Federation of Federal Employees-International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO (NFFE) — filed an amicus brief, represented by the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) in Rhode Island v. Trump, urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to uphold an injunction against the Trump Administration’s unlawful executive order that seeks to dismantle the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), along with other federal agencies.
The brief uplifts the meaningful work of NFFE’s members at the MBDA, who build on the long legacy of Black Americans’ service in the federal government, and the MBDA’s important work to help minority-owned businesses and other businesses thrive. It also highlights the devastating impact the order would have on minority-owned businesses, the MBDA’s majority-Black workforce, and the broader American economy.
“For more than half a century, the Minority Business Development Agency has helped make the American dream a reality for business owners across the country – aiding them in overcoming barriers erected by discrimination,” Legal Defense Fund Assistant Counsel Molly Cain said. “The MBDA has an incredible impact on the American economy – it had an economic impact of nearly $4.9 billion in fiscal year 2024 alone — and eliminating it hurts businesses, the economy, and the MBDA employees, who bring experience and expertise in carrying out the MBDA’s work.
“Despite the MBDA’s proven record of success, the Trump Administration is trying to gut the Agency entirely. The attack on the MBDA appears to be driven not by sound policy or law, but by a targeting of government programs that support Americans in overcoming barriers caused by racial discrimination,” Cain added. “The lower court was right to enjoin this unlawful executive order, and the First Circuit should affirm that decision.”
“The MBDA has been a valuable asset to the U.S. economy for decades and has been supported by presidents from both political parties for its critical role in helping minorities develop, own, and operate businesses nationwide,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “President Trump’s attempt to eliminate the agency is part of a shameless effort to dismantle DEIA programs across the federal government, disproportionately harming minority communities, including NFFE-IAM members employed by the MBDA. We are confident in the lower court’s decision to block this unlawful executive order, and we urge the First Circuit to uphold that ruling.”
Read the full brief here.
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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights law organization. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Please note that LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights.
