Van Hollen Underscores Illegality of Trump Action to End Collective Bargaining Agreements for Nonpartisan NASA, NOAA Employees

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, underscored the illegality of President Trump's August 28 executive order to end collective bargaining agreements between public employee unions representing workers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In a letter to the President, the Senator criticizes the order as a continuation of the Administration's illegal attacks on the rights of federal employees who work to track and predict severe weather, support our fishing industry, and enhance our understanding of earth and our universe, among other vital functions as part of the clear attempt to replace nonpartisan, merit-based workers with political cronies on a massive scale.

"I write to express my continued outrage over your executive orders aimed at ending collective bargaining rights for federal employees," the Senator began. "This executive order, which directs additional agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to cancel their collective bargaining agreements, is another escalation in your administration's relentless attacks on patriotic and dedicated federal workers."

Stressing that this executive order amounts to serious overreach of presidential authority, the Senator wrote, "the Civil Service Reform Act allows the suspension of collective bargaining in very limited national security circumstances. Yet, your order extends far beyond legitimate national security concerns and threatens the rights of workers who serve in a wide range of critical public services, including providing reliable forecasting of severe weather, managing the health of our nation's fisheries, protecting and promoting American innovation, studying the earth and universe, and conducting cutting-edge research to advance technology. These services are important to American communities and advance our economy and innovation. Instead of safeguarding them, this action will only jeopardize them.

"This expansion of the executive order simply advances your administration's broader campaign to misuse executive power and dismantle the merit-based civil service. It is your administration's latest attempt to strip workers of their rights, politicize the federal workforce, and replace dedicated career public servants with politically motivated appointees," he continued.

"I urge you to immediately rescind this illegal executive order. Every day that it remains in place, federal workers are left vulnerable to political retribution, undermining their ability to do their jobs effectively on behalf of the American people," the Senator concluded.

A copy of the letter is available here and below.

Dear President Trump,

I write to express my continued outrage over your executive orders aimed at ending collective bargaining rights for federal employees. Despite the ongoing litigation related to the initial executive order and the administration's gross misinterpretation of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the new order entitled Further Exclusions from the Federal Labor-management Relations Program further undermines the rights of federal workers across the country and their ability to serve the American people. This executive order, which directs additional agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to cancel their collective bargaining agreements, is another escalation in your administration's relentless attacks on patriotic and dedicated federal workers.

The Civil Service Reform Act allows the suspension of collective bargaining in very limited national security circumstances. Yet, your order extends far beyond legitimate national security concerns and threatens the rights of workers who serve in a wide range of critical public services, including providing reliable forecasting of severe weather, managing the health of our nation's fisheries, protecting and promoting American innovation, studying the earth and universe, and conducting cutting-edge research to advance technology. These services are important to American communities and advance our economy and innovation. Instead of safeguarding them, this action will only jeopardize them.

Moreover, the White House's own justification that these actions will ensure a more "responsive and accountable" civil service ignores the vital checks and balances that collective bargaining provides. Unions give federal employees the ability to stand up for their rights without fear of retaliation, which ensures that government services are delivered fairly and efficiently.

This expansion of the executive order simply advances your administration's broader campaign to misuse executive power and dismantle the merit-based civil service. It is your administration's latest attempt to strip workers of their rights, politicize the federal workforce, and replace dedicated career public servants with politically motivated appointees.

I urge you to immediately rescind this illegal executive order. Every day that it remains in place, federal workers are left vulnerable to political retribution, undermining their ability to do their jobs effectively on behalf of the American people.

Sincerely,