DateIssued:March27,2025
Topic:EconomicOpportunity WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisexecutiveorderterminatescollectivebargainingagreementsfor overonemillionfederalworkersacrossmorethan20agencies.
Theorderaffectsallagenciesthatperformintelligence, counterintelligence,investigative,ornationalsecurityduties,whichis definedbroadlytoincludetheFederalAviationAdministrationandFood andDrugAdministration,amongothers.Theorderalsoaffectsemployes inmanyCabinet-leveldepartments,includingtheDepartmentsof HealthandHumanServices,Agriculture,Transportation,andEnergy.
Theorderinstructstheaffecteddepartmentandagencyheadsto terminatecollectivebargainingagreementswiththeiremployeesand terminateagencyparticipationinanypendinglegalproceedingsthat pertaintounfairlaborpracticesorgrievancesbroughtforwardby unionizedemployees.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
TheorderamendstheU.S.Codetoexcludeemployeesatseveral agenciesfromparticipatinginfederallabor-managementrelations programs,whichincludeunions.
Theorderwillbeenforcedbythedepartmentandagencyheads,whoare expectedtoissueareportontheirprogresstowardsexecutingthisorder andidentifyinganyadditionalsubdivisionsthatshouldbeexcludedfrom collectivebargaining“intheinterestofnationalsecurity.”
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
ThisexecutiveorderwillsignificantlyimpactBlackcommunitiesasBlack peopleareoverrepresentedinthefederalworkforce.In2023,Blackpeople comprisedabout12%oftheU.S.populationand18%ofthefederal workforce.Theorderrestrictsfederalworkers’abilitytoparticipatein collectivebargaining,theprimarymechanismemployeeshavereliedon toadvocateforfairlaborstandardsfordecades.In2024,roughlythreein tenfederalworkerswereunionized,andmostarepartoftheAmerican FederationofGovernmentEmployees(AFGE),whichboastsover800,000 members.Nationally,Blackworkershavethehighestunionizationratesof anydemographic,andthisorderwouldprohibitthousandsofthemfrom negotiatingforfairwagesandotherlaborprotections.
InMarch,PresidentTrumprescindedseveralexecutiveordersissuedby PresidentBiden,includingonethatinstructedfederalagenciestoprioritize fundingprojectsthatusedunionlaboranddemonstratedacommitment toworker’srights.Trumphasalsoattemptedtofiremembersofthe NationalLaborRelationsBoardandtheEqualEmploymentOpportunity Commissionasapartofhisdiversity,equity,andinclusionrollbacks. Together,theseexecutiveactionsdiscouragecompaniesandindividuals whoworkwithorforthefederalgovernmentfromorganizingandholding theTrumpAdministrationaccountableforprovidingsafeandequitable workingconditions.
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasadvocatedforworker’srights andlaborprotectionssinceitsinception.Rep.YvetteD.Clarke,CBCChair, issuedthefollowingstatementonbehalfoftheCaucusinresponsetothis executiveorder:
“InsteadofworkingtolowerthecostoflivingforeverydayAmericans andprotectingtherightsofpatrioticcivilservants,manyofwhom havededicatedtheirlivestomakingourcountryabetterplaceforour communities,PresidentTrumpandElonMuskarecontinuingtheir effortstodestabilizethefederalgovernment.SincetheCivilService ReformActof1978,thefederalworkforcehasbeenabletojoinaunion andbargaincollectivelyovertheiremploymentterms.DonaldTrump's executiveordertorevoketheserightsforhundredsofthousandsof federalworkers,includingveteransandBlackandminorityworkers,is ashamefulattempttounfairlypunishandsilencecompetentworkers andinstallpeoplewhowillcarryouthisextremistProject2025Agenda. PresidentTrumpcannotclaimtorepresentworkingclassAmericans andattacktheveryunionsthatfighttoimprovetheirrights.This executiveordershouldimmediatelybemetwithlegalaction.”
Rep.BobbyScottrespondedtothisexecutiveorderwiththefollowing statement:“ThisexecutiveorderisanotherexampleoftheTrump-Musk Administration’swaronworkingpeople.[...]Sincetheenactmentof theNationalLaborRelationsActnearly90yearsago,workershavebeen empoweredtocometogetherandformunionstowinhigherpay,better safetystandards,andclaimavoiceintheirworkplacesastheyprotect workersfromabuseandmisusebyunscrupulousemployers.President Trump’sbrazenattempttostripthemajorityoffederalemployeesoftheir unionrightsrobstheseworkersoftheirhard-foughtprotections.”Full Statement
CBCmembersarealsopushingtopasslegislationthatcodifiesworker protections.OnMarch5,2025,Rep.BobbyScottandHouseMinority LeaderHakeemJeffriesintroducedtheRichardL.TrumkaProtectingthe RighttoOrganize(PRO)Act,whichencouragesworkerstounionizeand holdscorporationsaccountableforprotectingworkers’rights.Thebillhas garneredsupportfrommorethan50CBCmembers.
Rep.BobbyScott:“Unionsareessentialforbuildingastrongmiddle classandimprovingthelivesofworkersandfamilies.Regrettably,for toolong,workershavesufferedfromanti-unionattacksandtoothless laborlawsthatunderminedtheirrighttoformaunion.Asahistoric numberofAmericansputtheirsupportbehindlaborunions,Congress hasanurgentresponsibilitytoensurethatworkerscanjoinaunion andnegotiateforhigherpay,betterbenefits,andsaferworkplaces.”
FullStatement
