House Restores Federal Union Rights, Rebukes Trump Order/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The House voted to reverse President Trump’s executive order limiting federal workers’ union rights. With bipartisan support, the bill aims to restore collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of employees. Though passage in the Senate is uncertain, the move signals growing resistance to Trump’s labor policies.
Federal Bargaining Rights Quick Looks
- House passes bill to restore collective bargaining for federal employees.
- 20 Republicans joined Democrats in rare bipartisan vote.
- Bill overturns Trump’s March 2025 executive order limiting union rights.
- Affected workers include 600,000 employees at Defense, VA, and other agencies.
- Measure passed using a discharge petition to bypass GOP leadership.
- Union groups, including AFGE and AFL-CIO, praised the vote.
- Senate approval remains unlikely under current Republican control.
- Some GOP supporters face competitive reelections in 2026.
- Trump’s action seen as largest federal anti-union move in history.
- Lawsuit still pending on legality of executive order.
House Restores Federal Union Rights, Rebukes Trump Order
Deep Look
In a rare show of bipartisan unity, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to restore union rights to hundreds of thousands of federal employees, reversing a controversial executive order issued earlier this year by President Donald Trump.
The legislation passed with a 231-195 vote, including the support of 20 Republicans who broke ranks with party leadership to support the measure. The bill aims to reinstate collective bargaining rights for federal workers, many of whom lost those protections under a Trump executive order targeting employees in agencies tied to national security.
The order, signed in March 2025, had affected approximately 600,000 of the 800,000 federal workers represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). It was one of the most sweeping anti-union measures imposed at the federal level in recent history. President Trump argued that he had the authority to curtail union rights for these workers under a 1978 law, citing national security concerns.
The House vote came about through an uncommon procedural maneuver known as a “discharge petition,” initiated by Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine. By gathering 218 signatures—just over half of the 435-member House—supporters forced a vote despite the resistance of Republican leadership. The tactic, increasingly used in the current Congress, reflects mounting frustration with partisan gridlock and leadership bottlenecks.
Before the vote, GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, emphasized the importance of restoring rights to federal workers.
“Reinstating these rights is not a concession — it is a commitment,” Fitzpatrick said. “A commitment to treat federal workers with dignity, to reinforce a resilient public service, and to honor the dedication of the men and women who show up for the American people every single day.”
Supporters hailed the bill as a landmark step toward protecting federal labor rights. The AFGE, which is currently challenging Trump’s executive order in court, called the vote a “seismic victory” for public workers. “This is about more than just policy—it’s about justice and dignity for the people who keep our government running,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley.
The AFL-CIO, America’s largest labor federation, also praised the outcome.
President Liz Shuler said the vote reversed what she called “the single largest act of union-busting in American history.”
Despite the House victory, the path forward remains uncertain. The Senate, controlled by Republicans, is unlikely to take up the measure without significant pressure. However, the House vote marks one of the first direct legislative challenges to Trump’s flurry of executive actions during his second term.
Democrats, who have long positioned themselves as champions of labor rights, uniformly supported the bill.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said it was essential to stand up for “public servants who have been targeted viciously by the Trump administration from the very beginning.”
While most Republican backers of the bill avoided criticizing the president directly, their support was notable. New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler acknowledged that an executive order had stripped bargaining rights and emphasized that every worker deserves a voice.
“That includes the people who keep our government running and open,” he said.
Among the 20 Republicans who supported the measure, many—such as Fitzpatrick—are up for reelection in closely contested districts in 2026. Their votes reflect not only labor sympathies but also political realities in swing states and districts with strong union presence.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, a former Democrat who switched to the GOP during Trump’s first term, also supported the bill.
“This is a New Jersey message,” he said. “I’ve always been supportive of unions, and I’ve got to take care of my people.” Van Drew insisted his vote was not meant to send any message to the president, but rather to protect the workers in his state.
The executive order remains in effect as the legal battle continues. A federal appeals court ruled in May that the Trump administration could enforce the order while the case moves through the courts. That lawsuit argues the action was both illegal and retaliatory, further heightening tensions between the federal workforce and the White House.
While the bill’s future in the Senate remains doubtful, the House vote sends a clear signal: there is growing resistance to executive overreach in labor matters, and a recognition—across party lines—of the essential role that federal workers play. Whether this legislative momentum will translate into concrete protections remains to be seen.
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