The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has named Rushab Sanghvi as general counsel on a permanent basis, having been serving as acting GC since September.

Sanghvi, who was previously deputy GC, became acting GC when former legal chief David Borer retired.

The AFGE is a union that defends the rights of 800,000 federal and Washington DC government employees. Sanghvi’s role has taken on extra significance given Donald Trump’s election as US president, with the president-elect pledging to cut civil service jobs and axe certain government agencies. 

Trump has named two billionaires – Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk – as joint heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Musk has said the department could deliver $2trn in spending cuts by firing thousands of federal workers.

Everett Kelley, AFGE’s national president, said: “I am proud to place Rushab in charge of our legal team. His advocacy on behalf of federal employees is unmatched. AFGE’s affiliates and members have continually praised his performance and work ethic.”

Kelley added: “Now more than ever, our union needs a dedicated and intelligent attorney like Rushab to lead our legal team as we defend the rights of federal employees and unions during the challenging times ahead.”

Sanghvi has been with AFGE for his entire legal career, first joining as a law clerk before being promoted to associate general in 2012 and then deputy GC in 2021.

He said: “I am grateful to President Kelley for his leadership in the labour movement and the ever-important fight to protect workers’ rights, and for his trust in my ability to lead AFGE’s legal team. AFGE’s hardworking members are the backbone of this country and our democracy.

“Despite recent attacks, I believe Americans recognise that federal employees are dedicated and unbiased professionals who play a necessary and essential role in communities all over the country. It has been an honour to serve our members and all federal employees, and I look forward to continuing to serve them in my new role.” 

Borer, meantime, left AFGE after 14 years as GC. He was previously GC at the Association of Flight Attendants, among other roles defending workers’ rights.

Earlier this month, Trump appointed former Jones Day partner William McGinley as White House counsel.