In a move that strikes at the heart of employee rights, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order titled "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs" on March 27, 2025. This Executive Order claims to eliminating collective bargaining for unions within numerous federal agencies under the pretext of national security concerns. This sweeping action affects a broad array of departments, including Defense, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, State, Energy, Treasury, Justice, and Health and Human Services, among others.
The administration justifies this decision by invoking the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, falsely asserting that collective bargaining agreements hinder the agility and effectiveness of agencies tasked with safeguarding national security. However, this rationale is a thinly veiled attempt to dismantle the rights of workers.
The consequences of these actions are far-reaching. By eliminating collective bargaining, the administration is silencing the voices of dedicated public servants who advocate for adequate resources, fair working conditions, and ensure the effective delivery of services to the American people.
The erosion of collective bargaining rights not only undermines the welfare of federal employees but also jeopardizes the integrity and effectiveness of the very agencies tasked with protecting our nation. We must collectively resist these efforts to dismantle worker protections and continue to champion the rights and dignity of all people.