WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Jared Golden (ME-2) joined together to introduce the Protect America’s Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation aimed restoring collective bargaining rights for unionized federal employees.
The legislation would reverse the Executive Order titled “Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs” which aimed to eliminate collective bargaining rights across multiple federal agencies. Specifically, the order targeted employees in the Departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Energy, as well as certain employees in the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Agriculture. In total, the order impacted roughly 67% of the federal workforce, according to independent reports.
“Improving government efficiency is essential—but sweeping exclusions from collective bargaining are a blunt instrument that risk weakening the very stability and performance we aim to strengthen. The Protect America’s Workforce Act restores a balanced, targeted approach—protecting bargaining rights where they pose no threat to national security and reinforcing their proven role in supporting morale, accountability, and effective governance. We can defend our national security without silencing those who serve it. Efficiency and fairness are not mutually exclusive—and this legislation ensures we uphold both,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.
“In his order, President Trump said that federal workers’ rights are incompatible with national security. He is wrong. Union workers make America stronger every single day, including more than 6,000 federal workers in Maine,” said Rep. Golden. “Throughout our history, unions have ensured workers got their fair share of this nation’s prosperity. Unions built our middle class, and are key to strengthening its future. We cannot have a government that undermines workers’ rights.”
“Donald Trump is trying to end collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, silencing their voices and ripping up their contracts. This order would strike a blow to every American’s fundamental right of freedom of speech and association," said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. "More than 70 percent of Americans and nearly 9 in 10 young people support unions — no one voted to attack the freedom to organize with our co-workers for a better life. We commend the leadership of Reps. Jared Golden and Brian Fitzpatrick for using Congress’ power to reverse this executive order. The labor movement is 100 percent behind this bill and we call on every member of Congress, Democrat and Republican, to take a stand in support of our fundamental rights by backing this critical legislation.”
In addition to the AFL-CIO, the Protect America’s Workforce Act has the support of numerous unions representing federal employees, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Federal workers already face significant limitations in their labor rights. Unlike their counterparts in the private sector, they are prohibited by law from bargaining over wages, benefits, or job classifications and are barred from striking. Their collective bargaining rights are restricted solely to matters related to working conditions. Notably, approximately one-third of unionized federal employees are U.S. military veterans.
The Protect America’s Workforce Act reaffirms a core principle: a government that serves the people must also respect the rights of those who serve within it.
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