President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday ending collective bargaining for administrative employees across major federal agencies, striking a blow to a federal bureaucracy many conservatives see as bloated and overly entitled.
The executive order affects approximately 75% of federal administrative workers, removing collective bargaining privileges in agencies critical to national security, including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State and Treasury.
The Trump administration based this action on authority from the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which allows presidents to limit union rights within agencies involved in national security matters. The White House said unions have obstructed management decisions and interfered with federal operations.
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, quickly vowed to challenge the order in court. AFGE President Everett Kelley said the union is already preparing legal action to fight Trump’s executive order.
Anticipating these legal challenges, the Justice Department proactively filed a lawsuit in Texas, seeking a judicial declaration that terminating collective bargaining agreements is within the administration’s authority.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the legal action supports Trump’s effort to ensure unions do not hinder the government’s national security responsibilities.
This executive order comes amid broader efforts by Trump to significantly reduce federal spending. Elon Musk, appointed to oversee Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, has announced plans aimed at cutting roughly $4 billion per day from federal expenditures.
