On June 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge James Donato in San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction blocking an executive order from President Donald Trump that aimed to eliminate collective bargaining rights for federal workers at 21 agencies. The order, signed on March 27, 2025, was challenged by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and five other unions, who argued it violated their First Amendment rights and was intended to weaken unions opposing Trump’s agenda.
Trump’s order exempted agencies involved in “intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work” from collective bargaining obligations. This significantly expanded an existing exemption, applying it to entire cabinet departments like Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, State, and Labor, among others, for the first time. Judge Donato, appointed by President Barack Obama, ruled that the order likely infringed on unions’ free speech rights under the First Amendment. He cited a White House fact sheet that expressed hostility toward federal labor unions, suggesting the order was retaliatory against unions critical of Trump’s policies.
The injunction prevents 21 agencies from implementing the order pending a trial. This follows a similar April 2025 ruling in Washington, D.C., blocking the order at seven agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Health and Human Services. The D.C. ruling is under appeal, but Donato’s decision extends to those agencies and others.
The unions contend that most affected workers do not perform national security or intelligence duties, and the order was designed to punish unions for challenging Trump’s initiatives, such as mass firings and layoffs of federal employees. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the order as lawful, stating the administration anticipates prevailing in court.
Eliminating collective bargaining would allow agencies to alter working conditions, fire, or discipline employees more easily and limit unions’ ability to challenge Trump’s policies in court. Donato’s ruling underscores the order’s unprecedented scope, noting its application to entire departments as a historic overreach of the national security exemption.
AFGE President Everett Kelley hailed the ruling as a victory, calling the executive order a “retaliatory attempt to bust federal unions” and disrupt services for Americans. The decision is seen as a significant setback for Trump’s efforts to overhaul federal workforce policies.
The case reflects ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and federal unions, which have historically opposed efforts to reduce worker protections. The outcome of the trial and related appeals could set precedents for federal labor rights.
