The National Labor Relations Board was created 90 years ago as an independent federal agency after Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act to protect employees from unfair labor practices and to adjudicate labor disputes. NLRB members are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate for staggered five-year terms. Gwynne Wilcox was confirmed by the Senate as a member of the NLRB in August 2021 and later designated Board Chair, making her the first Black woman to hold either role. On January 27, 2025, President Trump purported to fire Wilcox via a late-night email. In clear violation of the NLRA, the termination email did not identify any purported neglect of duty or malfeasance and did not provide for notice and a hearing. Without Wilcox, the NLRB lacks a quorum and cannot adjudicate labor disputes.