Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over New Executive Order on Federal Unions
The Trump administration is under scrutiny following a recent executive order signed by Donald Trump that seeks to limit the unionization rights of federal employees. Union leaders have strongly criticized the move, labeling it as an attempt to suppress their voices.
According to the executive order, the classifications and departments of federal workers eligible for union organization are to be limited. This directive also instructs the government to cease all collective bargaining activities.
The Office of Personnel Management has released a memo to guide federal departments and subdivisions in complying with the order. The memo details steps to terminate existing collective bargaining agreements and halt the voluntary collection of union dues through payroll systems.
In a bid to support the order, the Trump administration has filed a lawsuit in Texas, arguing that current collective bargaining agreements “significantly constrain” the executive branch. The lawsuit contends that these agreements hinder the development of necessary personnel policies, particularly those related to national security.
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, criticized the executive order, stating, “This executive order is the very definition of union-busting. It strips the fundamental right to unionize and collectively bargain from workers across the federal government at more than 30 agencies.” Shuler further suggested the move aligns with the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, aimed at restructuring the federal government.
As of 2024, more than 1.2 million federal employees, or 29.9%, are union members, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Union representatives have vowed to challenge the executive order legally.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), responded to the executive order, describing it as a “disgraceful and retaliatory attack on the rights of hundreds of thousands of patriotic American civil servants.” Kelley emphasized that the AFGE would not be intimidated and is preparing immediate legal action to protect its members’ rights.
Federal unions, governed by the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, are restricted to bargaining over conditions of employment, with wages, benefits, and classifications determined by law and Congress. Notably, federal workers are prohibited from striking.
Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), accused the administration of retribution, stating that the order aims to silence union voices. “This attack is meant to silence their voices, so Elon Musk and his minions can shred the services that working people depend on the federal government to do,” Saunders said.
