The White House just fired another shot at federal labor unions, and it’s a big one. In a move that’s already stirring up legal challenges, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stripping collective bargaining rights from a massive portion of the government workforce. If this policy stands, thousands of federal employees will lose a major line of defense against unfair terminations and workplace disputes.
So, what exactly happened? The executive order, signed on Thursday, declares that multiple government agencies can no longer negotiate union contracts. Why? Because they have intelligence or national security functions as a "primary role," according to the order. That means agencies like the State, Defense, Treasury, Justice, and Veterans Affairs departments—along with large parts of Interior, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services—are now exempt from collective bargaining agreements. This list also includes other federal agencies that handle sensitive operations.
For many federal workers, this isn’t just policy—it’s personal. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal employees, estimates that this decision affects more than a million workers. And if history is any indicator, this isn’t just an isolated action but part of a larger pattern aimed at dismantling labor protections.
AFGE President Everett Kelley didn’t hold back, calling the move “a disgraceful and retaliatory attack on the rights of hundreds of thousands of patriotic American civil servants.” He emphasized that nearly one-third of these workers are veterans, people who have dedicated their lives to serving the country. Kelley made it clear that AFGE won’t sit back quietly, announcing that the union is preparing “immediate legal action” to challenge the policy.
If this all sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Back in December, HuffPost reported that Trump was planning to use a national security exemption to justify cutting collective bargaining rights in several departments. This approach isn’t new—his administration has already revoked union rights at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Unlike other federal agencies, the TSA is easier to target because the law that created it didn’t explicitly protect union representation. That move was widely criticized, and this latest action is poised to face even greater backlash.
But why does the Trump administration seem so determined to weaken federal unions? The answer may lie in the larger goal of reducing government size and eliminating agencies it views as unnecessary. Federal unions have played a critical role in challenging some of the administration’s more controversial policies. For example, AFGE has led legal battles against the White House’s attempt to force mass resignations under the “Fork in the Road” policy, as well as widespread layoffs impacting over 20,000 probationary employees. To the administration, these unions are a roadblock to its broader agenda.
While federal unions provide employees with certain protections, they don’t have the same leverage as private-sector unions. Unlike unions in the corporate world, they can’t negotiate wages or benefits, nor can they organize work stoppages. Additionally, under the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, all federal workplaces operate as “open shops.” This means no worker is required to pay union dues—a significant limitation compared to the private sector.
Despite these restrictions, unions remain one of the strongest advocates for government workers, fighting against policies that could strip them of their rights and job security. That’s why this executive order is seen by many as an attack not just on unions, but on federal employees as a whole.
Kelley put it bluntly: “Fall in line or else.”
The coming weeks will likely see a flurry of legal action as labor unions fight back against what they view as an unjust and politically motivated attack. If successful, the executive order could reshape the landscape of federal labor rights for years to come. But if the courts rule against it, this could be yet another failed attempt by the Trump administration to dismantle worker protections. Either way, the battle lines are drawn, and the fight is far from over.
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