Trump signs Executive Order 14251 eliminating collective bargaining at 40+ federal agencies

On March 27, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14251, invoking the national security exception in the Civil Service Reform Act (5 U.S.C. 7103(b)) to eliminate collective bargaining rights at more than 40 federal agencies covering over 950,000 workers. A second EO in August 2025 expanded coverage further. The VA -- the government's largest civilian employer of union workers, with 320,000 AFGE members -- was among the agencies targeted. Multiple unions filed federal lawsuits immediately, arguing the EO exceeded the statute's narrow national security carve-out and violated the First Amendment.