A union representing U.S. federal government employees has sued Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and President Joe Biden to try to stop them from complying with the debt ceiling statute, which it claims is unconstitutional. The lawsuit is seeking an injunction that would prevent Biden and Yellen from suspending or canceling operations of the federal government if the debt ceiling is reached.
The lawsuit was filed on Monday by the National Association of Government Employees, which represents nearly 75,000 employees of federal agencies. The union says a default would harm its members who would be at risk of being laid off or losing pay and benefits.
It says the debt ceiling law adopted in 1917 violates the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers because it forces the president in the event of a default to cut spending already authorized by Congress.
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