MSPB loses its quorum, leaving federal workers without an appeals board for five years

The Merit Systems Protection Board lost its quorum in January 2017 when all three member positions expired without Senate confirmation of replacements, leaving the board unable to issue final decisions for nearly five years. During this period the board accumulated over 3,000 pending appeals with no path to resolution. Cathy Harris was confirmed as chair in March 2022 and Raymond Limon as member, restoring a quorum, but recusals by members Tristan Leavitt and later nominees left immigration judge appeals in a persistent procedural limbo that continued through 2026.