With Federal Workers Under Attack, Padilla, Warner, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Repeal Union-Busting Executive Orders

Two-thirds of federal workers lost their collective bargaining protections under Trump EO

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the Protect America's Workforce Act, which would repeal two union-busting executive orders and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers.

This legislation comes in response to a pair of executive orders issued earlier this year by President Trump. These executive orders revoked collective bargaining rights for a majority of federal employees under a false national security pretext. While federal employee unions do not negotiate pay or benefits, collective bargaining agreements protect them from retaliation, discrimination, and illegal firings, while promoting resources for whistleblowers and veterans.

California has among the highest number of federal employees in the nation, many of whom have lost their labor rights under the Trump Administration.

"Donald Trump's executive orders ripping away collective bargaining rights from over a million federal workers constitute one of the biggest union busts in American history," said Senator Padilla. "Eliminating these basic labor protections is a thinly veiled retribution campaign under the guise of national security, but these orders make us all less safe by undermining the workforce Americans rely on for vaccine research, food inspections, natural disaster relief, and so much more. Our bill reverses these callous attacks to protect the fundamental workplace rights of federal employees in California and across the country so they can continue serving the American people."

"From the gutting of essential government agencies to the politization of nonpartisan government jobs, there's never been a tougher time to be a federal worker," said Senator Warner. "As the Trump administration continues to terrorize the federal workforce, I'm proud to introduce legislation to safeguard the longstanding protections that federal employees need right now."

"Every day our patriotic, merit-based civil servants provide essential services to the American people - and their collective bargaining rights are critical to protecting them from unfair labor practices as they carry out that important work. Trump wants to strip them of these rights so he can continue to gut the federal workforce and easily replace them with political cronies who will do his bidding without regard for the law. This bipartisan bill will stop this lawless union-busting power grab - and protect the integrity of our federal workforce and the services they provide," said Senator Van Hollen.

"Trump's attacks on unions, union jobs, and the right to collective bargaining is making our economy weaker and putting American jobs at risk," said Leader Schumer. "Earlier this year, President Trump issued wide-sweeping executive orders that revoked collective bargaining rights that federal workers have held for decades - a threat to the rights of all of America's workers. Federal workers deserve to have union protection to improve their working conditions and to defend those who speak up on behalf of the American people - it's how our federal workforce finds and retains the best talent and how we live up to the values and standards our country has set for itself. Democrats know that union strong is America strong which is why I am proud to support the Protect America's Workforce Act to restore commonsense measures that will right this wrong and help protect the rights of the people who have elected to serve our country."

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CRSA) grants the president authority to limit collective bargaining agreements when there is a national security concern. President Trump's executive orders, however, sought to take advantage of the CRSA by inappropriately classifying two-thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions in order to claim the authority needed to cancel valid union contracts.

The Protect America's Workforce Act also affirms that any collective bargaining agreement in effect as of March 26, 2025, the day before the first executive order, will be in full force.

This legislation also has the support of the AFL-CIO, Actors' Equity Association, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of Musicians, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), Federal Education Association, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, LIUNA - the Laborers' International Union of North America, National Education Association, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United, National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Seafarers International Union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, United Auto Workers (UAW), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and United Steelworkers (USW).

"Donald Trump's executive order launched the biggest act of union-busting in our history, ripping away collective bargaining rights from a million federal workers. In the months since, his administration has expanded that order and unilaterally cancelled union contracts for more than 400,000 workers. These moves are an assault on our fundamental freedoms and undercut critical services people across the country rely on. We commend Senators Warner, Van Hollen, and Minority Leader Schumer for bringing the fight to overturn the Trump administration's attack on workers to the Senate. Bipartisan momentum is already building in the House, where lawmakers are collecting the final signatures on a discharge petition to bring this bill to a vote. The labor movement looks forward to working with senators to stop the senseless assault on workers who provide essential government services to communities across America. The labor movement stands united behind this bill, and we call on every senator-Democrat, Republican and Independent-to keep their promise to workers by backing this legislation," said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

"President Trump's March executive order stripping most of the federal workforce of collective bargaining rights represents the single most aggressive action taken by the federal government against organized labor in U.S. history, dwarfing any previous action against public or private sector working Americans. AFGE members are grateful to Sen. Warner for introducing the Protect America's Workforce Act and standing up for the nonpartisan civil service, the women and men who serve in it, and the critical role that collective bargaining has played for decades in fostering a safe, productive, and collaborative workplace that serves the American people," said AFGE National President Dr. Everett Kelley.

"Presidential orders stripping union rights from federal employees are not only an attack on the civil service, they're an attack on the vital services Americans depend on. NTEU members are grateful to Senators Warner, Van Hollen, Schumer, Schatz, Padilla, Alsobrooks, and Kaine for leading this legislation requiring agencies to honor the collective bargaining agreements already in place. The Protect America's Workforce Act ensures federal employees can collectively advocate for a better workplace and the resources to best serve the American people," said Doreen Greenwald, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union.

"NFFE is proud to endorse the Protecting America's Workforce Act, which will restore union rights for over one million civil servants," said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. "The union busting executive order signed by President Trump in March has proven to be detrimental to federal workers and the essential services they provide to the American people every day. This legislation has garnered broad bipartisan support in the House of Representatives and will surely do the same in the Senate. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle understand that if this bill is not passed into law, their constituents will suffer the consequences. Thank you to Senator Warner and the initial cosponsors of the legislation for their leadership on this critical issue."

"They protect the environment, care for veterans, and support public health and education. Characterizing these workers as a national security threat in order to strip them of their union rights and protections is shameful and a gross overreach by this administration. The Protect America's Workforce Act is necessary to restore their collective bargaining rights, including protection against illegal firing, discrimination or retaliation particularly at this time in our country," said Heather Conroy, Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union.

"Federal workers are essential to our nation's health and well-being, and when they have the freedom to collectively bargain for safe working conditions and strong public services, we all benefit. The billionaires running this administration are hell-bent on rigging our government to line their own pockets, and silencing federal workers is how they plan to do it," said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. "We thank Senator Mark Warner for introducing this legislation, and we urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill."

This legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Senator Padilla is a longtime advocate for protecting workers' rights and fighting for their safety. In April, Padilla joined Senator Van Hollen and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in urging President Trump to rescind his March 27 executive order to end collective bargaining agreements between public employee unions and dozens of federal agencies and bureaus. Earlier this year, Padilla, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and a bipartisan group of Senate and House colleagues introduced the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), comprehensive labor legislation to protect the rights of workers to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. Padilla also joined every Democratic Senator and a bipartisan group of 213 Representatives in urging President Trump to immediately reinstate National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox and restore the NLRB's ability to protect the rights of American workers to organize and collectively bargain. In July, Padilla announced the Asunción Valdivia Heat, Illness, Injury and Fatality Prevention Act to protect the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace. He also cosponsored a pair of bills to hold companies who engage in union busting activities accountable and to protect striking workers' access to health care. Padilla previously cosponsored the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, legislation that would support the right to unionize by prohibiting states from banning union security agreements through "right-to-work" laws.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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