Well, well, well. The Senate just delivered a serious blow to President Biden’s labor agenda, and it wasn’t just Republicans doing the heavy lifting. Independent Senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) crossed the aisle to block Lauren McFerran’s renomination as chairwoman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The 50-49 vote left Democrats licking their wounds, and now the NLRB is staring at a GOP-led future with President-elect Donald Trump waiting in the wings.
Let’s unpack this. McFerran, a darling of the pro-union left, has been a champion for policies that critics say unfairly tip the scales in favor of union organizers. Republicans, along with Manchin and Sinema, weren’t about to let her stick around for another five-year term. And why should they? The Biden administration has spent the past few years cozying up to union bosses while businesses—especially small ones—shoulder the costs of overreach.
Take the infamous joint employer rule that Manchin himself criticized for “saddling” franchise owners with liabilities they couldn’t afford. It’s a classic example of the NLRB under McFerran prioritizing union expansion over economic common sense. Manchin made it clear he wasn’t on board with this agenda, saying his opposition was “not a surprise to anyone.” Translation: Biden should’ve seen this coming.
Then there’s Sinema, who has been an unpredictable thorn in the Democrats’ side for a while now. Returning to the Senate for a few final votes before bowing out, she reminded everyone that she plays by her own rules, not Chuck Schumer’s marching orders.
BREAKING: Great news!! Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema blocked Democrat activist Lauren McFerran’s re-nomination to the National Labor Relations Board. Vice President-elect JD Vance put transition duties on hold and flew up from Florida to be present for this vote.
Trump…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 11, 2024
And let’s talk about Schumer for a moment. The Senate Majority Leader tried to push through another nominee, a Republican pick named Joshua Ditelberg but abandoned that effort after McFerran’s rejection. His statement calling the vote a “direct attack on working people” is rich, considering what this fight is really about- stopping a partisan power grab. Democrats are frustrated because they’ve lost their grip on the NLRB until at least 2026, and they know a Trump-led board will prioritize workers and businesses—not just union bosses.
Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema just voted with every Senate Republican against re-confirming Democrat Lauren McFerran to the National Labor Relations Board.
Democrats would have controlled the majority on the NLRB until 2026 if they had voted in favor.
Now Donald Trump will… pic.twitter.com/39Pzno1x2p
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 11, 2024
Republicans, naturally, are celebrating this as a win for the free market. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, didn’t hold back. He called out the Democrats for trying to sneak McFerran through despite losing their “mandate to govern.” Cassidy made it clear: this seat should go to President Trump’s nominee, not Biden’s. After all, Trump and the incoming Republican majority have a mandate from the voters to enact a pro-worker, pro-business agenda.
Meanwhile, the usual suspects on the left are fuming. HuffPost’s Igor Bobic lamented Manchin’s defection, while Schumer and his allies are busy spinning this as a loss for “worker rights.” But let’s not kid ourselves. The Biden administration’s version of “worker rights” often means bending over backward to empower union bosses while ignoring the needs of small business owners and non-unionized employees.
This vote is a reminder of where the country is headed. With Republicans retaking the Senate and Trump preparing to take office, the days of the Biden administration’s woke labor policies are numbered. The NLRB, like the rest of Washington, is about to get a much-needed dose of accountability—and maybe even some common sense.
