US judge blocks Trump from ending union bargaining for many federal workers - Reuters

US judge blocks Trump from ending union bargaining for many federal workers - Reuters

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has temporarily blocked the administration of President Donald Trump from stripping hundreds of thousands of federal employees of their ability to unionize and collectively bargain over working conditions. Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman issued the order on Friday, pending the outcome of a lawsuit by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) [1].

The judge's decision halts the implementation of a March executive order by Trump, which exempted more than a dozen federal agencies from collective bargaining obligations. The order applied to agencies such as Justice, State, Defense, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and Health and Human Services, affecting approximately 75% of the roughly 1 million federal workers represented by unions [1].

The NTEU, which represents about 160,000 federal employees, argued that Trump's order violated federal workers' labor rights and the U.S. Constitution. Friedman, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, will issue an opinion explaining his decision in the next few days [1].

The White House and the NTEU did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump's executive order excluded agencies that he said "have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work" from collective bargaining obligations [1].

The order has significant implications for federal workers and the unions that represent them. The NTEU estimates that it is losing $2 million a month in dues that agencies are no longer deducting from workers' paychecks [1].

This temporary block by Judge Friedman highlights the ongoing legal and political battles surrounding labor rights and collective bargaining in the federal workforce. The decision will likely be closely watched by both labor advocates and those who support the administration's efforts to streamline federal operations.

References:
[1] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L1N3R315A:0-us-judge-blocks-trump-from-ending-union-bargaining-for-many-federal-workers/