From supporting child nutrition and providing health care for senior citizens to caring for our national parks and protecting our national security, federal workers provide essential services in every state. Since January, tens of thousands of federal workers have been abruptly fired and thrown out of jobs their families and communities rely on across the country. They have an urgent need for legal support, which will only increase throughout the spring as “reduction in force” plans go into effect.

We The Action, the AFL-CIO and a coalition of labor and democracy partners launched Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network to connect federal workers who have been fired by the Trump administration with free legal support. The Federal Workers Legal Defense Network will harness the power of pro bono lawyers to help current and former federal workers understand their rights and seek justice.

To join this effort, click “Volunteer for this Project.” If you are new to We The Action, enter your email address and select “Join.” If you are new and joining in your individual capacity, select your license status from the drop down. If you are signing up as a representative (such as pro bono counsel or coordinator) of a firm, bar association, corporation, or similar entity, please select "Pro Bono Coordinator for Legal Organization" from the drop down.

After joining the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network, you will receive an email with the subject line: Welcome to Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network! To ensure it doesn't end up in your spam folder, please add no-reply@workerslegaldefense.org to your contacts.

In order to volunteer, you will be required to certify that you are a member of a state bar in good standing, licensed to practice law, and are in compliance with the rules of the jurisdictions in which you are licensed to practice with respect to malpractice insurance. In the future, we anticipate working with additional volunteers.


We may share information about you with our partner organizations and other organizations, groups, individuals, or causes that we believe have similar viewpoints, principles or objectives or share similar goals and with organizations that facilitate communications and information sharing among such groups.