In a decisive move on Thursday, President Donald Trump initiated the termination of collective bargaining rights with federal labor unions engaged in national security missions, invoking his authority under a statute enacted in 1978. This executive order, which was signed discreetly and disclosed late Thursday evening, impacts a significant portion of the federal government. Among the affected agencies are key departments such as State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice, and Commerce, as well as sectors of Homeland Security focused on border security.
Personnel involved in law enforcement and firefighting will retain their collective bargaining privileges. Trump justified this action by referencing the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, asserting that it empowers him to rescind collective bargaining with unions in these pivotal agencies due to their critical role in maintaining national security.
In response, the American Federation of Government Employees, representing a vast workforce of 820,000 federal and D.C. government employees, announced that it is gearing up for immediate legal proceedings and is determined to fiercely defend the rights, members, and all American workers against what it perceives as an unprecedented assault. Everett Kelley, National President of the AFGE, condemned the order as a shameful and retaliatory measure targeting the rights of numerous patriotic American civil servants, a large percentage of whom have served in the military, simply because they belong to a union that challenges harmful policies.
Parallel sentiments were echoed by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who criticized the order as a retaliatory act against unions that contest the administration’s actions in court, suggesting it is a blatant effort to suppress union voices. Her declaration emphasized a resolute stance to combat this attack on union members with unwavering dedication.
This directive extends the Trump administration’s prior efforts to curtail collective bargaining rights in government sectors. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of a collective bargaining agreement affecting numerous frontline employees at the Transportation Security Administration, prompting the TSA union to describe it as an unprovoked attack and pledge to oppose it.
A briefing from the White House underscored that certain federal unions have positioned themselves against President Trump’s agenda, but Trump is resolute in preventing union obstruction from hindering his initiatives to safeguard Americans and national interests. The administration articulated its support for constructive collaboration with unions that are in alignment with its objectives but voiced a firm stance against widespread obstruction that would compromise the management of agencies charged with critical national security missions.