A recent legal challenge has put a hold on an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, which sought to significantly curtail collective bargaining rights for a large portion of federal employees.
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman issued a temporary restraining order Friday, preventing the administration from enacting the directive after it faced a lawsuit filed by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). This union advocates for roughly 160,000 federal workers and voiced serious concerns about the order’s legality and impact.
According to the NTEU’s legal filing, the executive order would infringe upon established labor rights of federal employees and potentially violate constitutional principles. The union further stated that implementation of the order would lead to a dramatic decrease in membership – impacting approximately two-thirds of its members – and a corresponding reduction in dues revenue by half.
The order carved out exemptions for more than a dozen government agencies, including vital departments such as:
- Department of Justice
- Department of State
- Department of Defense
- Department of the Treasury
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Department of Health and Human Services
This expansion significantly broadened existing rules that already excluded national security agencies like the FBI and CIA from collective bargaining mandates. Approximately 75% of federal employees represented by unions—totaling nearly one million individuals—would have been affected.
The U.S. Treasury Department also initiated legal action against the NTEU, aiming to nullify a previously established collective bargaining agreement specifically pertaining to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) personnel.
“The order was part of a broader strategy by the administration aimed at shrinking the federal government’s footprint,” stated Judge Friedman, “by streamlining disciplinary processes and altering working conditions.”
As it stands, the temporary injunction will remain in effect until the NTEU’s lawsuit reaches its conclusion. Judge Friedman has indicated he will release a detailed explanation of his ruling within the coming days and has allotted both legal teams one week to propose a path forward for the litigation.
