A federal judge temporarily halted Trump’s attempt to eliminate collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, marking a union victory against repressive labor policies.

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A federal judge blocked an executive order by President Donald Trump on Friday that sought to restrict unionization and collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, a move unions denounced as an attack on constitutional rights.

On March 25, Trump signed an executive order exempting over a dozen federal agencies-including the Departments of Justice, Defense, and Health-from negotiating with unions, claiming their functions were tied to “national security.” The measure would impact 75% of the approximately one million unionized federal workers, according to court documents.

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), representing 160,000 workers, sued the government, arguing the order violates the Federal Labor Relations Act and the Constitution by eliminating protections against arbitrary firings and cutting $2 million in monthly union dues.

A judge has granted a preliminary injunction allowing federal employees’ collective bargaining rights to remain intact in a dozen agencies. This is a small victory for federal employees, their union rights and the American people they serve: https://t.co/ZC0xDmiNSp pic.twitter.com/WFaX4tJH94

— NTEU News (@NTEUnews) April 25, 2025

Court Rulings: A Response to Political Retaliation

Judge Paul Friedman, appointed by Bill Clinton, ruled that the Trump administration acted with political motivations in issuing the order. During the hearing, Friedman noted Trump “is willing to be friendly with those who work with him, but with those who have sued him… he won’t negotiate.”

The decision comes amid a wave of judicial pushback against Trump’s policies: one day earlier, another judge in California barred the government from withholding federal funds from “sanctuary cities,” while the Supreme Court has partially upheld mass firings of federal employees.

The order would affect 100,000 NTEU members and allow agencies to modify labor conditions without union mediation. “This is an attempt to punish unions that have challenged his policies,” the NTEU stated. The White House did not respond to requests for comment, but government lawyers insist the order aims for “operational efficiency.”

This ruling adds to a series of court decisions that have partially stalled Trump’s anti-labor agenda, including attempts to slash staff at USAID and forced retirement offers for federal employees. However, the Supreme Court has upheld mass layoffs in other agencies, reflecting an uneven legal battle for the labor movement.

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