The Trump administration has once again demonstrated its commitment to national security by signing an executive order limiting collective bargaining rights for employees in key federal agencies.
The decision cuts through bureaucratic red tape that has hindered the administration’s ability to act swiftly on matters of national importance.
President Trump signed the executive order eliminating collective bargaining for employees at major agencies, including Defense, Veterans Affairs, State, Treasury, Energy, Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) framed the decision as essential for protecting America’s national security interests and ensuring these critical agencies can execute their missions without unnecessary delays.
The order dramatically expanded the list of agencies exempt from federal labor relations laws under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.
Surprisingly, the expanded definition of national security now includes agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, and Federal Communications Commission – entities not traditionally considered part of the security apparatus.
While the White House did not publicly announce the signing, administration officials made it clear that certain federal unions have been actively obstructing Trump’s agenda.
The timing comes as the administration faces multiple legal challenges from union groups over various policy implementations.
Beyond ending collective bargaining, the OPM memo contains additional reforms designed to streamline government operations.
Agencies must now shorten performance improvement plan timelines, making it easier to dismiss underperforming employees.
It also directs a return to in-person work, ending remote work arrangements that became widespread during the COVID pandemic.
The act also terminates the government’s role in collecting union dues, requiring employees to make payment arrangements.
This change effectively weakens unions’ financial power by making membership less convenient for federal workers.
Some inconsistencies in the application have raised eyebrows. Despite its security role, U.S. Customs and Border Protection was notably excluded from the order. This exemption comes after their union endorsed Trump.
Meanwhile, police and firefighters will retain their collective bargaining rights despite their security functions.
The order follows earlier actions targeting federal employee unions. The DHS recently ended its collective bargaining agreement with TSA employees, signaling a coordinated approach to reducing union influence throughout the federal workforce.
Predictably, union leaders have reacted with hostility. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) claims the order will remove labor protections from hundreds of thousands of civil servants and is preparing legal action.
For supporters of efficient government, the move represents a necessary step to ensure that critical security agencies can operate without burdensome union procedures that prioritize worker protections over mission effectiveness.
The administration continues to fulfill its promises to drain the swamp and make the government work for the American people rather than entrenched bureaucrats.
