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HARRIS COUNTY — Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin has joined a broad coalition of nationwide labor unions, non-profit organizations, and cities and counties from across the country in challenging the massive Trump-Vance administration effort to unlawfully reorganize the federal government, reduce the government workforce, and harm the government’s ability to deliver vital services to families across the country. Today’s action is necessary to prevent mass staff departures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), represented by Plaintiffs Unions AFGE and AFSCME, that would leave the department unable to fulfill its essential functions. This cut would directly impact Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which ensures families in need have access to vital nutritional support. 

“Government workers reflect the spirit of service our nation is built on, and a lifeline for families in need,” said Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin. “Trump's pernicious attempts to restructure and push specially trained and certified government employees out of an agency--that in our County alone, serves tens of thousands of mothers and children annually--would have serious consequences for vulnerable families across the country. My office stands alongside Democracy Forward, our labor unions, and local governments across the country in asking the court to block this action.” 

The lawsuit, American Federation of Government Employees v. Trump, was filed in response to the president’s efforts to eliminate important government work through the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency.” Multiple analyses indicate DOGE cuts were ineffective and spending continues to rise. For over 50 years, WIC has helped reduce infant mortality, improve maternal health, and ensure that low-income moms, babies, and young children have access to nutrition support during the most critical stages of development.  

WIC is the second-largest federal grant received by Harris County Public Health, serving between 47,000 and 48,000 individual women, infants and children in unincorporated areas of Harris County. Most WIC beneficiaries are infants and children: In May of this year, approximately 37,000 of the total clients served were infants and children enrolled in WIC in unincorporated Harris County. 

The coalition is represented in the case by lead co-counsel Democracy Forward and Altshuler Berzon LLP, Protect Democracy, Public Rights Project, and Democracy Defenders Fund. 

The coalition fighting against unlawful government reorganization plans includes the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and four AFGE locals; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and SEIU Local 1000; Alliance for Retired Americans; American Geophysical Union; American Public Health Association; Center for Taxpayer Rights; Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks; Common Defense; Main Street Alliance; NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council); Northeast Organic Farming Association Inc.; VoteVets; Western Watersheds Project; City and County of San Francisco, California; County of Santa Clara, California; City of Chicago, Illinois; City of Baltimore, Maryland; Harris County, Texas; and King County, Washington. 

For information from additional partners in the coalition, click here.