FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Matt Dorsey
(202) 550-6987
April 4, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) and several labor unions filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order (EO), Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs. The EO instructs 18 federal agencies to end collective bargaining with federal unions.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, alleges that Trump’s executive order is an unlawful retaliatory attempt to punish federal employee unions that have been engaging in constitutionally protected speech. Unions have repeatedly scored court victories after suing in opposition to actions taken by the Trump administration targeting federal workers.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration overbroadly applied the national security exemption to eliminate collective bargaining rights for over a million workers whose primary functions are not related to national security. Those employees work at agencies and departments like the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Bureau of Land Management, General Services Administration, Passport Services, the Department of Agriculture, Federal Aviation Administration, and several others.
“The right of federal employees to join a union is protected by the Constitution and has been supported by Presidents of both parties for decades,” said NFFE National President Erwin. “We believe the Trump Administration is blatantly violating both the Constitution and federal law in a misguided attempt to bust federal unions. In our view, this is the most anti-worker and anti-union action this country has ever seen. NFFE and our allies are confident the rule of law will be upheld and the critical rights of working people will be protected.”