James R. Murphy Appointed NLRB Chairman

NLRB News Releases

Published March 27th, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

President Donald J. Trump has designated Board Member James R. Murphy as the new Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, effective March 27, 2026. Chairman Murphy expressed his commitment to protecting and advancing the rights of American workers.

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What changed

President Donald J. Trump has appointed Board Member James R. Murphy as the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), effective March 27, 2026. This appointment signifies a leadership change within the agency responsible for protecting employee rights and overseeing labor relations in the private sector. Chairman Murphy, who has a long history with the NLRB, stated his intention to work with his colleagues to advance worker rights.

This is an informational notice regarding a leadership appointment. There are no immediate compliance obligations or changes to existing regulations for employers or employees. Compliance officers should note this change in NLRB leadership as part of their ongoing monitoring of labor relations regulatory bodies.

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President Trump Appoints James R. Murphy NLRB Chairman

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202-273-1991

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www.nlrb.gov

March 27, 2026 President Donald J. Trump has designated Board Member James R. Murphy Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.

“I wish to thank President Trump for putting his trust in me to serve as Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues Member Prouty and Member Mayer, and all NLRB employees to protect and advance the rights of American workers,” said Chairman Murphy.

Chairman Murphy was nominated by President Trump to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board. He was sworn in as a Member on January 7, 2026, for a term expiring on December 16, 2027.

Mr. Murphy returned to the Board after a distinguished career at the National Labor Relations Board with over 47 years of service. Mr. Murphy began at the Board as a student law clerk in 1974 and served as counsel to numerous Board members over the decades. Most recently, he served as Chief Counsel to former Chairman Marvin Kaplan.

Chairman Murphy received his J.D. from American University and his B.A. from Princeton University. He and his wife Karen have been married for over fifty years. They have three adult children and four grandchildren.

Established in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board is an independent federal agency that protects employees from unfair labor practices and protects the right of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. The NLRB conducts hundreds of workplace elections and investigates thousands of unfair labor practice charges each year.