rights
Remember when Trump's lawyer said he can fire all women & people over 40 if he feels like it?
Summary by LGBTQ News Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Molly Sprayregen , LGBTQ Nation
· July 23, 2026
· 3 min read
A lawyer for the Trump administration argued that the president has the authority to fire all women and people over 40 from federal positions if he so chooses. “Could the president decide that he wasn’t going to appoint or allow to remain in office any female heads of agencies or any heads over 40 y
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Summary created by LGBTQ News Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Molly Sprayregen, LGBTQ Nation Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 23, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Related Federal judge blocks "highly unusual" & "chaotic" anti-trans military ban “I think that that would be within the president’s constitutional authority under the removal power,” McArthur said.
Why this matters
The Trump administration's argument that the president has the authority to fire all women and people over 40 from federal positions raises concerns about the potential erosion of protections against discrimination in the workplace. This stance, as expressed by Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric McArthur, suggests that the administration may be willing to push the boundaries of the president's removal power, potentially violating other provisions of the Constitution, such as the 14th Amendment. The fact that two district judges have already ruled that Trump illegally fired members of the Merit Systems Protection Board and National Labor Relations Board highlights the ongoing tension between the administration's actions and the rule of law. As the case continues to unfold, it will be crucial to watch how the courts interpret the president's removal power and its potential implications for marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, which may face similar discrimination in federal employment.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: rights ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 3 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A lawyer for the Trump administration argued that the president has the authority to fire all women and people over 40 from federal positions if he so chooses. “Could the president decide that he wasn’t going to appoint or allow to remain in office any female heads of agencies or any heads over 40 y
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Molly Sprayregen at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .