Labor Board Deputies Shuffled in Shadow of Awaited Trump Changes

National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo rearranged senior personnel in an apparent bid to protect a longtime agency lawyer who served as her top lieutenant from being fired alongside her when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Peter Sung Ohr, who served as deputy general counsel since Abruzzo took the reins of the NLRB’s legal office, now heads the division of enforcement litigation, the agency announced Tuesday. Abruzzo elevated associate general counsel Jessica Rutter to serve as her new deputy.

Trump is expected to fire Abruzzo upon taking office Jan. 20, following the precedent set by President Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day termination of Peter Robb, Trump’s top NLRB lawyer during his first term.

What followed after Robb’s ousting suggests Trump will send the deputy general counsel packing so he can appoint someone to direct the agency’s legal arm while he chooses a GC nominee to go through the confirmation process.

The then-Republican-controlled NLRB named Robb’s number two, Alice Stock, as the acting general counsel—but she only lasted a day before Biden sacked her.

Biden filled the vacuum by selecting Ohr, who was the NLRB regional director in Chicago, to serve as acting general counsel. Abruzzo tapped Ohr to be her deputy after she won Senate confirmation in July 2021.

Ohr has worked at the NLRB for nearly 30 years.

“Peter is an exemplary career public servant,” Abruzzo said in a statement. “In his new role, he will continue to use his vast knowledge and experience to serve the Agency with distinction and fully effectuate the mission of the National Labor Relations Act.”

Rutter, who has worked for the American Federation for Teachers, joined the general counsel’s office under Arbuzzo in August 2021.

“Jessica is an outstanding and committed public servant,” Abruzzo said. “In her new role, she will continue to use her considerable talents and skills in fully advancing the mission and supporting Agency operations.”