Blumenthal, Murkowski, Schumer & Ramirez Introduce Bipartisan Bill to restore VA Employees' Collective Bargaining Rights

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL), House Veterans' Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member, introduced bipartisan legislation to restore and protect Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees' collective bargaining rights in response to the Trump Administration's cancellation of union contracts for 80% of VA employees.

"We must erase Trump's unlawful executive orders restricting VA workers' rights to collective bargaining," said Ranking Member Blumenthal. "VA worker rights are essential to imposing proper oversight and scrutiny and providing veterans the care and compensation they deserve. As this Administration broadly cuts federal employees and their pay, collective bargaining rights are more important than ever."

"Our country made a promise to care for those who have served - and that promise is upheld by ensuring that our Veterans Affairs workforce is able to provide the best possible care to our former servicemembers. That includes upholding their right to collectively bargain so they have access to working conditions that allow them to focus on supporting our veterans," said Senator Murkowski. "This legislation will defend those who speak up about waste, fraud, and abuse within the Department. When we protect this workforce, we protect veterans' access to the high-quality care and benefits they've earned."

"Earlier this year, the Trump administration implemented a cruel, anti-vet, and anti-worker order that compromised the health and livelihood of our nation's veterans," said Leader Schumer. "We now must fight for our VA workforce - many of whom are veterans themselves - and make sure that we defend their right to collective bargaining. Despite what the Trump administration might espouse, strong unions protect workers, promote excellent customer service, and prevent high turnover. Our nation's heroes deserve nothing less."

"VA employees are essential to ensuring the VA effectively serves veterans and meets its mission. Protecting VA employees and their rights ensures we retain the workforce that delivers on the promises we made to our veterans as a nation," said Congresswoman Ramirez. "As the Trump administration doubles down on their attacks on federal workers, we must reaffirm every worker's right to voice in decisions that affect their work and to be protected from actions that would jeopardize their rights, safety, and dignity. I am proud to work with Senator Blumenthal on legislation that will defend workers' rights."

The lawmakers' VA Care and Benefits Accountability (VA CBA) Act will restore cancelled union contracts and nullify Executive Order 14251 (90 Fed. Reg. 14553) and Executive Order 14343 (90 Fed. Reg. 42683). This will restore union bargaining rights and protections for nearly 400,000 VA employees, among which almost 25% are veterans.

In August, Trump VA Secretary Doug Collins terminated union contracts for most of VA's bargaining-unit employees-enforcing the executive orders despite ongoing litigation and the Office of Personnel Management's recommendation to wait until court proceedings had been fully resolved. This decision impacts nearly 80% of VA's workforce, including mission-critical positions like mental health providers, nurses, and claims processors. This action stripped employees of certain essential rights that help protect whistleblowers who advocate for accountable leadership and increased support and resources to provide quality, effective, and efficient services to all Americans.

The unions impacted by the Trump VA's policy are the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The lawmakers' legislation is supported by key labor partners and veterans' advocates.

"AFGE and its National Veterans Affairs Council (NVAC) strongly support H.R. 6015/S. 3174, the 'VA CBA Act of 2025.' We greatly appreciate Senator Blumenthal and Representative Ramirez for introducing this bill that would restore collective bargaining rights to hundreds of thousands of Department of Veterans Affairs Employees, including those covered by the NVAC CBA, the single largest bargaining unit in the federal workforce," said AFGE's NVAC President Mary Jean "MJ" Burke. "Passing this legislation would restore protections for VA employees and allow unions to bargain and grieve when a problem occurs in VA facilities across the country. Restoring these rights will help the VA with recruitment and retention, and enable VA employees, a third of whom are veterans themselves, to better serve veterans."

"NFFE strongly supports H.R. 6015/S. 3174, the VA CBA Act of 2025, and urges its swift passage," said National Federation of Federal Employees' (NFFE-IAM) National President Randy Erwin. "This legislation is essential to restoring collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of VA employees-many of them veterans-so they can speak out about fraud, waste, abuse, or management failures without fear of retaliation. At a time when outside interests increasingly pressure the VA to prioritize private profit over patient care, these protections are more critical than ever. Collective bargaining is not just about supporting employees; it ensures they have the confidence and security to hold management accountable to the promises we make to veterans every day."

"You can't claim to support veterans while breaking the backs of the people who care for them. When VA employees lose their right to organize and advocate for safe staffing and fair treatment, it's veterans who suffer," said Common Defense's Political Director Naveed Shah. "The Veterans Affairs Care and Benefits Accountability Act of 2025 restores balance and reaffirms a simple truth: veterans deserve a VA that is strong, public, and staffed by professionals who have a voice on the job. Common Defense thanks Senators Blumenthal and Murkowski for their leadership in standing up for the VA workforce and protecting the system our veterans depend on."

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