The Senate has confirmed James Woodruff II to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), restoring a quorum to the agency that safeguards federal civil service rights and handles employee appeals. The confirmation, finalized in early October, ends months of gridlock that left hundreds of federal workers’ cases unresolved.
The MSPB has been operating without a quorum since the termination of Cathy Harris earlier this year. Without at least two members, the Board could not issue final decisions on petitions for review, leaving employees with pending whistleblower, disciplinary, and removal cases waiting indefinitely.
Woodruff joins Henry Kerner on the three-member panel, allowing MSPB to resume full operations for the first time in months. His term runs through March 2032. Both Woodruff and Kerner are Republicans, and federal law bars more than two members of the same party from serving simultaneously. The third seat remains vacant, leaving the Board one member short of full strength.
Rising Caseload and Lingering Backlog
The confirmation comes amid mounting pressure on the agency. MSPB has received over 11,000 appeals in FY 2025, about twice the number from the previous year, while staffing shortages have limited its ability to process cases. With a quorum restored, the Board can now begin issuing long-pending final decisions and start chipping away at its backlog.
Federal employee advocates welcomed the move as a step toward restoring trust in the merit system, though many caution that it will take time to clear the accumulated workload.
Legislative and Political Implications
The restored quorum could also shift momentum in Congress. Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced the Fair Access to Swift and Timely Justice Act (S. 2977), which would allow federal employees to bring their cases directly to court if the MSPB failed to act within 120 days. That proposal gained traction while the Board was inactive, but the urgency behind it may now fade with MSPB once again able to issue rulings.
What It Means for Federal Employees
For federal workers, the return of a quorum means long-delayed appeals can finally move forward. The Board’s decisions shape precedent across the civil service system, influencing how agencies handle personnel actions and how employees exercise their rights. Woodruff’s confirmation marks an important step toward restoring normalcy at the Merit Systems Protection Board and reestablishes a critical safeguard for merit-based federal employment.
