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In a significant bipartisan move, twenty House Republicans joined Democrats on Thursday to pass legislation that would reverse President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting collective bargaining rights for federal unions. The final vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act passed with 231 votes in favor and 195 against, with all opposition coming from Republican lawmakers.
The bill, championed by Representative Jared Golden (D-Maine), aims to nullify Trump’s March 2025 executive order that blocked union negotiations across numerous federal agencies. Golden utilized a rarely successful parliamentary procedure known as a discharge petition to force a vote on the legislation, bypassing House leadership opposition.
Trump’s executive order had far-reaching implications across the federal government, affecting workers in key departments including Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Energy, Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Agriculture. The order effectively eliminated collective bargaining rights for more than a million federal employees.
During Thursday’s floor debate, positions fell largely along party lines, with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Kentucky) opposing the bill by arguing that public sector unions fundamentally differ from their private sector counterparts.
“In the private sector, unions represent workers and sit across the bargaining table from representatives of business owners. However, federal unions are not negotiating with a profit-seeking corporation. They are negotiating with the public’s elected representatives,” Comer said during the debate.
Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) claimed the legislation would protect what he described as “telework perks” and shield federal employees from accountability while giving unions “effective veto power over a duly elected president with a mandate to clean up a bloated federal bureaucracy.”
On the Democratic side, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) defended collective bargaining as “essentially the freedom to negotiate the best possible work environment” and expressed gratitude for the bipartisan effort to restore these rights.
Several Republicans broke with their party to support the measure, including Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania), Rob Bresnahan (Pennsylvania), Don Bacon (Nebraska), Mike Lawler (New York), and Nick LaLota (New York). These five had previously signed Golden’s discharge petition alongside 213 Democrats to bring the bill to the floor.
Bresnahan, whose Pennsylvania district includes thousands of federal workers, described the restoration of collective bargaining rights as “a lifeline that ensures fair wages, safe workplaces, and the basic dignity that every worker deserves,” particularly for corrections officers and employees who work with veterans and seniors.
Similarly, Lawler argued in favor of the bill, stating, “These are career public servants, many of them veterans who show up every single day to serve our country. Every American deserves a voice in the workplace, and that includes the people who keep our government running and open.”
The bill’s support among Republicans grew over two days of procedural votes. Thirteen Republicans initially voted to advance the legislation on Wednesday, with that number increasing to 22 during Thursday’s procedural vote before the final tally.
Discharge petitions, though rarely successful in the House, have seen more frequent use during this congressional session as Republicans navigate their slim majority. Despite clearing the House, the measure faces significant hurdles ahead, as it would still need to pass the Senate and ultimately be signed by President Trump to become law.
The vote represents a notable moment of bipartisan cooperation in an otherwise polarized Congress, particularly on an issue directly related to one of the president’s executive actions.
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10 Comments
This is an interesting development in the ongoing debate over federal unions. It’s good to see bipartisan cooperation on this issue, even if the parties remain divided on the merits. I’ll be curious to see how this legislation fares in the Senate.
Collective bargaining is a fundamental right for workers, whether in the private or public sector. While the politics around federal unions can be complex, I think this bipartisan vote shows that protecting employee protections is still a shared priority for many lawmakers. It will be interesting to monitor how this legislation progresses.
The Trump-era executive order limiting union negotiations seems to have been quite controversial and far-reaching. I’m glad to see Congress taking steps to reverse it, though the partisan split suggests there’s still work to be done in finding a balanced approach that works for both labor and management.
As someone who has worked in the federal government, I know how important union representation can be for employees. While the Trump order was controversial, I think it’s positive that Congress is taking action to restore those rights. It will be worth following how this legislation is received in the Senate and what the ultimate impact will be.
As someone who has followed federal workforce issues, I think this is an important vote. Collective bargaining is a fundamental right for public sector employees, so I’m glad to see bipartisan support for protecting it. At the same time, I hope lawmakers can find ways to modernize labor relations in the federal government.
This vote shows that even in a polarized Congress, there are still areas where bipartisanship is possible. Federal employee unions play an important role, and I’m glad to see lawmakers from both parties recognize the need for their collective bargaining rights. It will be interesting to see what amendments or changes emerge as this bill moves forward.
Collective bargaining rights are an important protection for federal workers. While reasonable people may disagree on the specifics, I think it’s positive that lawmakers were able to come together and overturn the previous executive order. This shows the system can still function despite political divisions.
This is an important issue that goes beyond partisan divides. Federal employees provide critical public services, and ensuring they have a voice through collective bargaining is vital. I’m glad to see lawmakers from both sides of the aisle come together to uphold these rights, even if the details may still be debated.
The bipartisan vote to overturn the Trump administration’s federal union restrictions is an encouraging sign. While the politics of labor issues can be contentious, protecting worker rights should be a priority regardless of party affiliation. I’ll be curious to see if this collaborative approach can extend to other workforce-related policies going forward.
It’s encouraging to see Republicans join Democrats in overturning the Trump administration’s restrictions on federal union rights. While the details are complex, upholding worker protections is critical. I’ll be watching to see if this legislative momentum continues in the Senate.