President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that will terminate collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, targeting agencies responsible for critical national security roles. The order Aims squarely at a federal bureaucracy that Trump argues has grown excessively large and burdensome for U.S. taxpayers.
The executive order removes union bargaining authority across major government agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs and Treasury. It also includes agencies involved in border protection such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to a White House fact sheet, Trump invoked authority from the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, citing a provision allowing removal of union rights in agencies vital to national security. The administration claimed federal unions have repeatedly used their bargaining power to block reforms and stall necessary policy changes, posing risks to national security interests.
The administration described union activities as hostile and argued these groups frequently hinder efficient management of critical agencies. The order follows several previous Trump actions aimed at reducing the size and influence of the federal workforce, including recent layoffs announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Federal employee unions reacted fiercely to the move. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents approximately 820,000 workers, stated the union plans to file immediate legal challenges. Kelley described the executive order as retaliation for union resistance to Trump’s previous cuts and policy shifts.
Legal battles over the executive order have already begun. The Justice Department has proactively filed suit in Texas, asserting the administration’s right to terminate existing collective bargaining agreements. Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that the lawsuit was necessary to support Trump’s executive authority in national security matters.
This latest effort follows Trump’s directive placing billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in charge of reducing federal government spending. Musk recently announced ambitious plans to eliminate approximately $4 billion in federal expenditures daily, totaling a potential reduction of $1 trillion from the national deficit.
