Controversial Executive Order Issued, Labor Leader Calls It a Threat to Democracy
A labor leader described the recent executive order as “a clear threat not just to federal employees and their unions, but to every American who values democracy and the freedoms of speech and association.”
President Donald Trump’s recent move against federal workers came late Thursday night with an executive order aimed at removing collective bargaining rights from hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Advocates for labor rights argue that this act is not only illegal but once again reveals Trump’s hostility toward workers and their families.
The stated goal of Trump’s executive order is to “enhance the national security of the United States.” However, critics argue that the president is using national security as a pretext to undermine collective bargaining among public sector workers and to intimidate workers more broadly.
“This latest executive order from President Trump represents a shameful, retaliatory strike against the rights of countless American civil servants—almost a third of whom are veterans—for the simple reason that they belong to a union that opposes his detrimental policies,” stated Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which is the largest federal employee union in the U.S.
“The labor movement will not stand by as Trump and an unelected billionaire dismantle what we have built over generations. We will vehemently oppose this egregious assault on our members with every ounce of our collective strength.” —Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO
Trump’s comprehensive order, citing the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act for presidential authority, extends far beyond limiting collective bargaining and union representation at national security agencies, targeting a wide array of federal agencies and employee classifications.
According to the Associated Press, the scope of the order “seems to encompass most of the federal government.”
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, expressed her revulsion at the order, highlighting its origins in the Heritage Foundation’s pre-election strategy, which has long sought to diminish the federal workforce and collective bargaining.
“Derived directly from Project 2025, this executive order epitomizes union-busting,” Shuler stated Thursday evening. “It strips essential unionization and collective bargaining rights from employees across over 30 federal agencies. These are the workers who ensure our food safety, care for our veterans, and protect us during public health crises. They will no longer have a say in their working conditions or the ability to organize with colleagues for better workplace environments, crucial for effectively delivering public services.”
Shuler described the order as a “punishment for unions leading legal challenges against the administration’s unlawful actions—a blatant attempt to silence opposition.”
The White House practically conceded this point, stating, “While Trump supports constructive partnerships with cooperative unions, he will not tolerate widespread obstruction that threatens his ability to manage agencies critical to national security.” Essentially, with such a broad definition of “national security” covering most government functions, the president has signaled to roughly two-thirds of government workers that dissent or obstruction in organizing for job defense or improved working conditions will not be tolerated.
“With this order, Trump is attempting to dismantle unions and labor rights as we’ve known them for a century,” said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, on Friday.
“Trump’s effort to dissolve federal labor unions represents the most severe attack yet on working America,” Casar continued. “We must mobilize to halt this—in the streets and through legislative action—or watch as Trump hands over all our rights to the billionaires.”
Citing the administration’s “bullying tactics,” Kelley stated the order poses “a clear threat not only to federal employees and their unions but to every American who cherishes democratic freedoms and the rights to speech and association. Trump’s message is unmistakable: conform or face consequences.”
“These threats will fail. Americans will neither be intimidated nor silenced. AFGE remains steadfast. Our members, who have loyally served this nation and often faced danger, deserve far more than this overtly political retribution,” he added.
Both AFGE and the AFL-CIO have vowed to fiercely contest the order in defense of federal workers—and all workers—who have a right to collective bargaining and to organize their workplaces without intimidation, in both public and private sectors.
“To every American who values workers’ fundamental freedoms, now is the time to amplify our voices,” Shuler urged. “The labor movement will not allow Trump and an unelected billionaire to destroy what we’ve fought for over generations. We will challenge this appalling attack on our members with every fiber of our collective being.”
Kelley announced that AFGE was “preparing immediate legal action” in response to Trump’s order and pledged to “relentlessly defend our rights, our members, and all working Americans against these unprecedented attacks.”
Jeffrey Hauser, executive director of The Revolving Door Project, a progressive watchdog, commented, “Despite claims by Trump, Musk, and some centrists, a robust civil service is essential for the nation. Few innovations have advanced the public good more than allowing government employees to unite and form unions to protect themselves from politically motivated actions by power-hungry officials.”
Following the creation of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, Hauser emphasized the heightened necessity for public sector unions to defend a government workforce now under siege by the president and his appointees at DOGE, including billionaire Elon Musk.
“It’s time for all decent entities to denounce the unlawful actions of Trump and Musk,” Hauser stated, “and to decry the attack on public employees’ right to organize.”
Update: This story has been updated from its original version to include comments from the Revolving Door Project and Congressman Greg Casar of Texas.
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