Trump Government Labor Pick OK’d by Senate Panel on Party Lines

President Donald Trump’s pick for the top lawyer job at the agency that protects federal government workers’ union rights was approved by a Senate committee July 24 on an 8-5 party-line vote, setting up consideration by the full Senate.

Catherine Bird would be the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s general counsel if she’s confirmed. The nomination of Bird, an attorney with the Department of Health and Human Services who oversees negotiations with the HHS labor union, is strongly opposed by the two largest federal employee unions.

There are about 2.1 million civilian federal employees, including about 1.2 million who are ...