Conservative group calls on Senate GOP to block Biden’s pick for NLRB

The Americans for Limited Government added opposition to President Biden’s pick for chairman of the National Labor Relations Board and demanded that Senate Republicans work to block the confirmation vote. 

Rick Manning, president of the nonprofit organization, argued in a statement that Mr. Biden was trying to hamstring the incoming Trump administration by locking in appointments and securing a Democratic majority once more on the NLRB. 

Mr. Biden’s pick, current NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran, has been waiting for a confirmation vote since August, when the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved her for a third term along party lines. If the full Senate backs her, it would cement a Democratic majority on the NLRB until August 2026.  

“President Joe Biden is engaged in an end-of-presidency power play to keep Democrat control over the National Labor Relations Board by pushing a renewal of current Chair Lauren McFerran to another term,” Mr. Manning said. “Senate Republicans should do everything in their power to stop this power play and allow newly elected President Donald Trump to name the next chairperson.”

Mr. Manning contended that Ms. McFerran was not suited for another term because of a series of “absurd decisions” made by the board under her tenure that have been overruled in federal court. 

The Americans for Limited Government joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in calling on senators to vote against Ms. McFerran.

Glenn Spencer, the senior vice president of the chamber’s Employment Policy Division, argued this month that “the NLRB has been embroiled in numerous contentious decisions and legal challenges that have drained agency resources and overturned established legal precedents” under Ms. McFerran’s leadership. 

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, has made a point of advancing a slate of judicial nominees throughout the lame-duck session.

“Confirming the NLRB nominees is one of our highest priorities, and we’re going to do everything we can do to get it done by the end of the year,” he said on X last week.