AFGE Gears Up for Major Layoffs Amid Trump Administration's Attacks on Federal Unions
In a huge shake-up that’s sending waves through the federal workforce, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is bracing for massive layoffs, slashing more than half of its staff. Yep, you heard that right — the largest union representing federal employees is about to shrink from a team of 355 down to just around 150 workers.
Now, if you're thinking this sounds like a major hit, you're absolutely right. Organizers, national representatives, support staff — pretty much everyone across the board — could be out of a job as soon as June. It's a tough pill to swallow for a union that represents over 800,000 federal workers nationwide.
But AFGE isn’t just rolling over and giving up. Nope, far from it.
"We will not be deterred, silenced, or intimidated into submission," the union said in a fiery statement. "This is a setback, but not the end of AFGE – not by a long shot."
How did we get here?
Well, the root of the problem traces back to a controversial move by former President Donald Trump. In March, Trump signed an executive order that pretty much pulled the rug out from under federal unions. The order stripped away collective bargaining rights from a hefty chunk of government employees across more than a dozen agencies. It was a serious blow — and AFGE, which represents about 660,000 workers in those agencies alone, immediately took the fight to court.
And here’s where it gets even messier:
Not only did Trump push the order under the guise of "strengthening national security," but a White House fact sheet flat-out admitted that part of the goal was to stop federal unions from "declaring war" on Trump’s agenda. It specifically called out "the largest Federal union," accusing it of filing grievance after grievance to block his policies.
Talk about being singled out.
Meanwhile, unions have been feeling the financial squeeze big time. The Office of Personnel Management dropped a bombshell when it issued guidance in March telling agencies to stop deducting union dues straight from workers' paychecks. And since payroll deductions are pretty much the lifeblood of union funding, the impact was immediate — and brutal.
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which is the second-largest federal workers' union, reported a $2 million loss in dues revenue practically overnight. In court filings, they even warned that they might not be able to bounce back from the hit.
While AFGE had seen the writing on the wall and worked hard to move members onto an E-Dues system — where folks pay their dues directly to the union — the reality is that the majority still relied on automatic paycheck deductions. When that got shut down, it hit them hard.
But make no mistake: AFGE has been anything but passive.
Since Trump’s inauguration, they've been rallying hard, filing multiple lawsuits, protesting coast-to-coast, and standing up for federal employees at every turn. They’ve challenged the firing of probationary workers, fought to preserve bargaining rights, and organized nationwide demonstrations to call attention to what they see as direct attacks on the civil service.
In fact, just recently, a federal judge threw a wrench into Trump’s plans by pausing the executive order after a lawsuit filed by the NTEU. The ruling was a glimmer of hope for unions, but it’s still unclear whether it’ll be enough to save AFGE’s staff from the looming layoffs.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the whirlwind events:
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March: Trump signs executive order stripping federal workers of collective bargaining rights.
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March: Office of Personnel Management tells agencies to stop union dues payroll deductions.
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Post-March: Massive loss in union funding — NTEU alone loses $2 million.
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April-June: Surge in AFGE membership signups, but overall federal workforce shrinks by over 100,000 employees.
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Late Friday: Federal judge puts Trump’s executive order on pause (for now).
Still, even with a slight uptick in new members joining AFGE since Trump took office, the union can’t hide from the fact that the federal workforce itself is shrinking — over 100,000 jobs gone, with more layoffs on the horizon. And fewer employees means fewer union members, which means even less funding.
The Associated Press was the first to break the news about AFGE’s internal layoffs. And ever since, the development has sparked serious concern not just inside the union but across the broader labor movement. After all, if the largest federal employees’ union can be hit this hard, what does that mean for everyone else?
Looking ahead, AFGE leaders say they’re ready to adapt and evolve. They’re exploring ways to streamline operations, refocus their advocacy efforts, and find new strategies to keep their voice strong in Washington.
One thing is clear:
This fight is far from over.
In fact, judging by their fiery statements and relentless courtroom battles, AFGE seems more determined than ever to protect the rights of federal workers — even if it means doing it with fewer hands on deck.
To sum it all up:
✅ AFGE is laying off over 200 staffers due to Trump-era executive actions.
✅ They vow to keep fighting for federal employees’ rights.
✅ Massive revenue loss after paycheck deductions for union dues were halted.
✅ Court battles are ongoing — with some small wins already happening.
✅ The federal workforce is shrinking, hurting union membership numbers.
✅ AFGE is determined to adapt and keep its mission alive.
It’s a tough road ahead, no doubt. But if there’s one thing this union has made crystal clear, it’s that they’re not going anywhere without a fight.
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