President Donald Trump has dealt a crushing blow to American workers by dismantling the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), while also granting Elon Musk a significant victory in his battle against labor laws.
Trump’s decision to fire a key NLRB member left the agency without the quorum needed to function, effectively shutting it down. With the board unable to operate, Musk and other powerful employers are in a stronger position, as labor protections are now nearly unenforceable.
The NLRB, which has been responsible for overseeing union elections and investigating unfair labor practices, is critical in holding employers accountable. For example, the board investigates claims of workers being fired for supporting unions—something Musk has been accused of multiple times. But with the NLRB now unable to function, Musk and other employers no longer have to fear the agency stepping in to enforce labor laws.
“This is great for employers — they have a nonfunctioning NLRB,” said Cathy Creighton, an attorney who worked with the NLRB under President Clinton. “It’s a win for big business, and Musk is at the top of that list.”
Musk, who has been a vocal critic of labor laws and union efforts, is perhaps the most significant beneficiary of this change. His companies, SpaceX and Tesla, have long clashed with the NLRB. In fact, Musk’s SpaceX filed a lawsuit against the agency last year, arguing that its structure was unconstitutional. The suit sought to block the NLRB from taking action over the firing of employees who criticized Musk’s social media behavior. Tesla has also faced NLRB complaints regarding its treatment of unionizing efforts, including Musk’s controversial tweet suggesting that workers would lose stock options if they joined a union.
Although Musk has not openly taken credit for Trump’s move, critics argue that his actions have played a major role in dismantling the NLRB. “The NLRB has got to be right at the top of his list for what agency Musk wants to destroy,” said Adam Shah, director of national policy at Jobs With Justice, a labor rights group.
Musk’s influence goes beyond the legal battles. The NLRB’s shutdown has weakened a crucial institution that historically helped balance power between employees and employers. Without the agency in place, Musk and other business leaders now have less to worry about when it comes to labor disputes and unionization efforts.
This isn’t the first time Musk’s companies have faced scrutiny over labor practices. At Tesla, the company has faced complaints about interfering with unionizing efforts, including intimidating employees and threatening to cut stock options if they supported a union. But now, with the NLRB effectively crippled, Musk is in a stronger position to continue pushing back against labor movements without the threat of intervention from the agency.
The broader impact of Trump’s move is troubling for labor advocates. Trump has presented himself as a champion for working-class Americans, yet his actions suggest a clear shift toward favoring corporate interests. By firing NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, Trump made it clear that he wanted the agency to be as pro-management as possible. Wilcox, who had worked to strengthen protections for workers, was dismissed because her record showed she was “unduly disfavoring the interests of employers large and small.”
For many, this move represents more than just a setback for worker protections—it’s a clear win for powerful employers like Musk. Without a fully functional NLRB, Musk can continue to operate with greater freedom, leaving workers without the same protections they once had.
While some employers may feel relief in the short term, the long-term consequences could be even more damaging. The lack of a functioning NLRB creates uncertainty in the workplace. Michael Lebowich, an attorney who represents employers, acknowledged that businesses might enjoy a temporary reprieve from some of the agency’s labor-friendly decisions. But in the long run, uncertainty in labor law is bad for business.
“Uncertainty is generally bad for business,” Lebowich said. “You’re not going to get cases overturned until there’s a board again.”
For Musk, the shutdown of the NLRB is a game-changer. While it remains to be seen how long the board will remain paralyzed, it’s clear that Musk has gained a major advantage in his ongoing battle against labor laws.
Critics argue that this moment represents a dangerous shift in the balance of power between workers and employers, with Musk standing as the ultimate beneficiary. In the absence of a functioning NLRB, labor protections that were once taken for granted may now be harder to enforce, leaving American workers vulnerable to corporate interests. And for Musk, this could be just the beginning of a more favorable era for big business.
