Trump’s Bold Executive Order Ends Collective Bargaining for National Security Agencies

President Donald Trump has made another bold move, signing an executive order late Thursday to terminate collective bargaining rights for federal labor unions within agencies tasked with critical national security missions.

The executive order, grounded in authority granted by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, will impact a substantial portion of the federal government. Agencies affected include the Departments of State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice, and Commerce, along with parts of Homeland Security responsible for border security. That’s a pretty broad sweep, wouldn’t you say?

The order emphasizes the need to streamline operations in these agencies to safeguard national security. According to a White House fact sheet, "President Trump is taking action to ensure that agencies vital to national security can execute their missions without delay and protect the American people. The President needs a responsive and accountable civil service to protect our national security." It seems like Trump is determined to cut through the red tape—or, in this case, a lot of union grievances.

Speaking of grievances, the fact sheet also highlights that some federal unions have been openly hostile to Trump’s policies. The largest federal union reportedly describes itself as "fighting back" against him, filing numerous grievances to block his agenda. For example, unions within the Department of Veterans Affairs have filed 70 national and local grievances since Trump’s inauguration—averaging more than one per day. Talk about persistence.

While Trump expressed support for unions that cooperate with his administration, he made it clear that obstructionist behavior will not be tolerated, especially when it compromises the management of agencies vital to national security. Police and firefighters, however, will retain their collective bargaining rights under the order.

This latest move underscores the administration’s emphasis on efficiency and responsiveness within agencies tasked with safeguarding the nation. Whether you agree with the approach or not, it’s evident that the President is making it clear who’s in charge.