On Wednesday, five federal workers initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit alleges that the lack of compensation for their work inherently breaches the 13th Amendment.
A Closer Look at the Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration
At this time, the specific names of the federal workers behind the lawsuit are not public. However, the individuals are employed by the Departments of Transportation, Department of Justice, and Agriculture and Homeland Security. Four of the five plaintiffs are also mandated to continue working in spite of the shutdown and lack of payment.
The federal workers officially filed the lawsuit yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. At this time, they claim that having to work without compensation constitutes a form of involuntary servitude and slavery. Of course, the 13th Amendment serves as the abolition of slavery and involuntary servitude.
The specific Trump administration officials who are facing the lawsuit are President Donald Trump, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.
