The New York Times: Unions Form Pro Bono Legal Network for Federal Workers Targeted by Trump
The nation’s largest federation of unions has put together a pro bono legal network that aims to help federal employees whose jobs have been lost or threatened under the Trump administration. More than 1,000 lawyers in 42 states have completed training in order to offer their services, organizers said. The new pro bono group — Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, which was formally introduced on Wednesday — was formed by the A.F.L.-C.I.O. along with several other unions and civil rights groups, including We The Action, a network that connects lawyers with nonprofits, Democracy Forward, and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Reuters: Unions, groups launch pro bono legal network for federal employees
A coalition of labor unions and left-leaning groups on Wednesday announced an initiative aimed at providing free legal advice to federal employees who lose their jobs. The project led by the AFL-CIO and We The Action, which connects volunteer lawyers with nonprofits, will recruit and train thousands of lawyers to consult with federal employees about their legal options.
The Hill: Unions launch Rise Up legal defense network for federal workers fired under Trump
A network of federal employee unions and legal groups launched a legal defense group to provide counsel to thousands of government workers recently fired by the Trump administration. “Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network will mobilize and train thousands of lawyers to provide pro bono legal guidance to federal workers,” AFGE wrote.
Law360: Coalition Offers Free Legal Aid To Fired Federal Workers
A coalition, including the AFL-CIO and nonprofits like the nonpartisan legal volunteering network We the Action, has teamed up to connect federal employees fired under the Trump Administration with free legal support. "The network has built out resources for lawyers to make it easy for them to participate in this," said Anna Chu, executive director of We the Action.
Bloomberg Law: Punching In: A 1,000-Lawyer Battalion to Help Federal Workers
With mass reductions in force across the federal government on the horizon, the AFL-CIO, federal workers’ unions, and advocacy groups have mobilized a network of more than 1,000 volunteer attorneys to provide legal services to laid off federal employees. The new Federal Workers Legal Defense Network launched last week.
Unions, Groups Launch Pro Bono Legal Network for Federal Employees. From the Reuters: “A coalition announced an initiative aimed at providing free legal advice to federal employees. The project led by the AFL-CIO and We The Action, which connects volunteer lawyers with nonprofits, will recruit and train thousands of lawyers to consult with federal employees.”
C-SPAN: Rep. Madeleine Dean Town Hall in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
[Nikki McKinney] “A brand-new initiative that we just launched yesterday[...] it’s called Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. We launched this alongside our partners in organized labor. It is a brand-new project, designed to connect federal workers whose rights have been violated by the Trump administration with free legal support.”
As federal employees continue to face widespread layoffs, unions and advocacy groups on Wednesday launched a network to provide legal advice to government workers. The goal of the Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network is to recruit attorneys to provide individual guidance to federal employees who fear losing their jobs or have already lost them.
If you’re a fired federal worker and need legal resources, the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network can help connect you with lawyers working pro bono.
Federal employees who were recently fired from their jobs by the Trump administration have a new place to turn for pro-bono legal advice. The project is led by Democracy Forward, AFL-CIO and We The Action, and has the backing of multiple federal unions and long-time good government organizations, such as the Partnership for Public Service.
Dogwood: Unions, civic groups launch effort to offer fired federal workers free legal support
A coalition of unions and legal groups announced on Wednesday the formation of a new project to help provide federal workers fired by the Trump administration free legal support to protect their rights. The coalition includes unions like the AFL-CIO and AFGE, as well as civic organizations like Democracy Forward and Civic Nation.
FEDmanager: Legal Defense Network Set Up for Feds with Job Status Questions
The coalition is called the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network and it offers pro bono services. The effort is led by numerous groups including Democracy Forward, the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the Partnership for Public Service, and We The Action.
The Worker’s Rights: Rise Initiative Offers Free Legal Help to Fired Federal Workers
The latest among widespread job cuts in the U.S. federal workforce prompted the coalition of labor unions and advocacy groups to launch a new drive, called “Rise: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.” The initiative, driven by the AFL-CIO and We The Action, would recruit and train thousands of volunteer lawyers to offer free consultations to affected workers.
The Labor Tribune: AFL-CIO organizes new free federal workers legal defense network
The free program is called Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. “We’ve organized this new network with federal worker unions and groups like We the Action and Democracy Forward, among others, to connect federal workers to a network of thousands of lawyers helping to get workers the free legal support they need,” the AFL-CIO said in a statement.
Heads Up News: The 250-year-old fight against monarchy never felt so relevant
New Help for Embattled Feds: Labor groups and their allies today launched a Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. The network will connect federal workers who have been fired or are concerned about their employment with free legal support through a network of trained pro bono attorneys. Do you need help? Do you want to help?
OnLabor: News & Commentary: April 18, 2025
Finally, the AFL-CIO, along with other unions and civil rights groups, launched “Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network”—a pro bono initiative to assist federal employees whose jobs have been threatened or terminated. The network features over 1,000 trained lawyers across 42 states who will help federal employees challenge dismissals and employment threats.
The STAND: AFL-CIO launches federal worker legal defense network
The labor movement and allies announced the formation of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network on Wednesday, a new project to connect federal workers whose rights have been violated by the Trump administration with free legal support. The Legal Defense Network is powered by the AFL-CIO and We The Action.
Legal Defense Network is powered by the AFL-CIO and We The Action. “This is a moment for lawyers to support the federal workers who serve us all,” said Anna Chu, executive director of We The Action. “ At a moment when our federal workforce is under attack, lawyers are uniquely positioned to take action. We’re honored to power the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.”
AFL-CIO: Blog: Introducing Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network
We’ve organized this new network with federal worker unions and groups like We the Action and Democracy Forward, among others, to connect federal workers to a network of thousands of lawyers helping to get workers the free legal support they need.
Democracy Forward: ICYMI: Legal Defense Network for Fired Federal Workers
This week, Democracy Forward and several allies, announced the formation of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. See coverage below: New York Times: Unions Form Pro Bono Legal Network for Federal Workers Targeted by Trump. Federal Workers Legal Defense Network was formed by the A.F.L.-C.I.O. along with We The Action.
Democracy Forward: Trump Administration’s Attempt to Override Civil Service Protections is Unlawful
Trump administration will publish a new proposed regulation in the Federal Register, attempting to target non-partisan civil service by reclassifying employees and making it easier to fire them. Democracy Forward joined a coalition to support Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, to connect workers whose rights have been violated with free legal representation.
A group of unions and labor movement allies on Wednesday announced the launch of a legal defense network. The legal groups like the American Constitution Society, We the Action, and Democracy Forward are partners on the project, as is the civil rights coalition the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
The American Prospect: Inside the VA’s War on Unions
The AFL-CIO has tried to help fill any representational void by recruiting and training 1,000 lawyers in 42 states to serve as a Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. This group will provide legal advice and support for individual employees who face adverse action by their agencies, but still retain civil service rights and protections.
AFL-CIO: 100 Days of Speaking Truth to Power
In the past 100 days, we’ve launched our own Department of People Who Work for a Living rapid response program to hold the DOGE accountable—and Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network to get workers the legal support they need to fight back.
Civil Service Strong: Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network
Democracy Forward’s Civil Service Strong initiative has partnered with the AFL-CIO, We the Action, and other partners to launch the Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.
The NFFE-IAM has announced the launch of the “Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.” This collaborative initiative, developed in partnership with the AFL-CIO, We The Action and other organizations, aims to provide free and direct legal support to federal workers who have been unjustly terminated or mistreated during the Trump administration.
NFFE-IAM recently launched “Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network.” This collaborative initiative, developed in partnership with the AFL-CIO, We The Action, and other organizations, aims to provide free and direct legal support to federal workers who have been unjustly terminated or mistreated during the Trump administration.
National Federation of Federal Employees: NFFE & Labor Allies Launch Legal Defense Network
FFE is proud to announce Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Fund. Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network is a new effort organized by NFFE and groups like the AFL-CIO, We The Action, and Democracy Forward to bring together thousands of lawyers to help federal workers understand their rights so they can get the justice they deserve.
Working with Union Coalitions and Advocacy Groups: On April 16, NFFE and our allies launched Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, a new organization connecting lawyers who can provide pro bono counsel to current and former federal workers.
Michigan AFL-CIO: STATEMENT: Fired Federal Workers Expose DOGE Chaos and Inefficiency
Michigan AFL-CIO released statement from President Bieber regarding testimony of fired federal workers at today’s state Senate Labor Committee hearing. Labor movement and allies recently announced Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, a new project to connect federal workers whose rights have been violated by the administration with free legal support.
NYC CLC AFL-CIO: Introducing Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network
The AFL-CIO has organized this new network with federal worker unions and groups like We the Action and Democracy Forward, among others, to connect federal workers to a network of thousands of lawyers helping to get workers the free legal support they need.
AFGE has partnered to form Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network connecting lawyers who can provide free, direct legal support to federal workers who have been fired or current workers who are concerned their workplace rights are being threatened by the Trump administration. The Legal Defense Network is powered by the AFL-CIO and We The Action.
AFGE: Chaos and Corruption Weekly Digest: Week 13
April 16: AFGE partnered with other labor unions and allied organizations to form Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network connecting lawyers who can provide free, direct legal support to federal workers who have been fired or current workers who are concerned their workplace rights are being threatened by the Trump administration.
NARFE California Federation: Rise Up – Legal Defense for Feds
A coalition of good government organizations and federal unions has launched an initiative called “Rise Up,” a network of thousands of lawyers who will offer free legal support to employees. For more information on Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, visit workerslegaldefense.org. Federal workers looking for legal support can begin the process here.”
Federal Employees Legal Defense Network is uniting lawyers to assist current or former federal workers through a central hub to provide much needed representation. If you have experience representing federal employees or have already participated in a training, signup for the preliminary interest list here: We The Action’s Public Service Legal Response Center.
The Labor Movement and its allies have announced the formation of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. The Network is powered by the National AFL-CIO and We The Action. Anna Chu, who serves as Executive Director of We The Action, said: “We The Action was founded on the fundamental premise that lawyers have the power to do good.”
The AFGE and other labor movement allies announced the formation of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, a new project to provide free legal support to federal workers impacted by the actions of the Trump administration. The Legal Defense Network was formed by the AFL-CIO and We The Action, along with other labor movement allies.
This 2025 season of activism takes many forms. Here is a great big community of lawyers combining their know-how. Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network was formed by the A.F.L.-C.I.O. along with several other unions and civil rights groups, including We The Action, a network that connects lawyers with nonprofits.
The labor movement and allies announced the formation of Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. The network will connect federal workers whose rights have been violated by the Trump administration with free legal support. The Legal Defense Network is powered by the AFL-CIO and We The Action.
The New York State Senate: We The People: Taking Action to Save Democracy
List of Organizations that attended the Activist Resource Fair – Take Action and/or Volunteer: Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network (Lawyers can Volunteer) https://workerslegaldefense.org/
We are working with a coalition of groups led by the AFL-CIO, the Union Lawyers Alliance, and We The Action to provide legal help to federal employees. The project, called the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, has hosted trainings for volunteer lawyers. More than 1,000 lawyers have participated in trainings so far and ACS is actively recruiting more volunteers.
Democracy Notes: This week's Democracy Notes
Separately, are you a federal worker who needs pro-bono legal support? Check out the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network! And lawyers, sign up to offer your volunteer support!
MSNBC: The Rachel Maddow Show [Broadcast]