📊 Snapshot: Protect America's Workforce Act
---
🎯 Overview
The Protect America's Workforce Act has reached 218 signatures on a House discharge petition, forcing a floor vote on legislation that would nullify President Trump's March 2025 executive orders stripping collective bargaining rights from over 1 million federal employees. The executive orders impacted roughly 67% of the federal workforce across Defense, Veterans Affairs, Justice, State, Energy, and other major agencies. The bill represents an extraordinary congressional override of presidential authority, with bipartisan support from Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick and Jared Golden alongside Democratic leadership. A federal judge initially blocked the executive order in April, but an appeals court stayed that decision this summer, allowing agencies to cancel collective bargaining agreements.
---
⚙️ What the Bill Actually Does
Nullifies two Trump executive orders. The legislation declares Executive Order 14251 and Executive Order 14343 void, prohibiting any federal funds from being spent to implement them.
Restores limited bargaining rights. Federal employees are prohibited by law from bargaining over wages, benefits, or job classifications and are barred from striking—their collective bargaining rights are restricted solely to matters related to working conditions.
Protects existing union contracts. Any collective bargaining agreement in effect as of March 26, 2025, maintains full force and effect through its stated term, preventing retroactive invalidation.
Creates separation of powers precedent. Congress directly overrides executive branch authority through legislative nullification rather than through appropriations riders or other indirect mechanisms.
Impacts security-sensitive agencies. The restoration applies across agencies with national security responsibilities, including Defense, State, Justice, and Energy departments.
---
🏆 Winners and Losers
Winners:
• 🔹 1+ million federal employees – Regain workplace protections and collective bargaining rights for working conditions
• 🔹 Federal employee unions – AFGE, NTEU, AFSCME, NFFE, and others restore representation authority
• 🔹 Whistleblowers – Collective bargaining agreements protect federal employees from retaliation, discrimination, and illegal firings, while promoting resources for whistleblowers and veterans
• 🔹 Congressional authority – Establishes precedent for legislative override of executive orders
Losers:
• 🔹 Executive branch autonomy – Presidential authority to restructure federal labor relations curtailed
• 🔹 Government efficiency initiatives – Administration's effort to reduce union influence in federal operations reversed
• 🔹 Agency management flexibility – Agencies must maintain existing collective bargaining agreements and negotiate working conditions
---
⚠️ Surprising Provisions & Common Misconceptions
• Federal unions have far less power than people think. Unlike private sector counterparts, federal employees are prohibited by law from bargaining over wages, benefits, or job classifications and are barred from striking—their collective bargaining rights are restricted solely to matters related to working conditions. This isn't about pay raises or generous benefits packages.
• The discharge petition bypasses normal committee process. The discharge petition reached the required 218 signatures, officially forcing the House to bring the bill forward for consideration. This rare procedural maneuver circumvents committee gatekeepers and demonstrates unusual bipartisan momentum on a labor issue.
• National security justification faces bipartisan skepticism. The executive orders revoked collective bargaining rights for a majority of federal employees under a false national security pretext, according to Senate sponsors. Even Republican co-sponsors reject the administration's rationale that union rights threaten security operations.
---
📋 Fact Sheet (Backers, Opposition, Context)
Key sponsors/backers: • House: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jared Golden (D-ME), plus 221 cosponsors • Senate: Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Major supporters (industries or groups): • AFL-CIO, AFGE, AFSCME, IFPTE, NPMHU, NTEU, SEIU • Federal employee unions representing over 1 million workers
Who opposes it: • Trump administration (issued the executive orders being nullified) • Agencies implementing government efficiency initiatives • Congressional Republicans aligned with executive branch restructuring efforts
Related bills or negotiations: • Another bipartisan group is leading a bill that would restore collective bargaining rights for VA employees, led by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) • Multiple lawsuits challenging the executive orders are pending in federal courts
---
🗓️ What's Next
House floor vote imminent. The legislation will now advance to the House floor for a vote following the successful discharge petition. The bill has enough cosponsors to indicate it would easily pass a floor vote.
Senate consideration uncertain. The Senate version (S. 2837) remains in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Senate passage would require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, making bipartisan support critical.
Presidential veto likely. If Congress passes the bill, President Trump would almost certainly veto legislation nullifying his own executive orders. A two-thirds override vote in both chambers would be required—a high bar despite bipartisan support.
Court cases continue in parallel. An appeals court allowed agencies to keep canceling collective bargaining agreements, and several agencies have since rescinded their collective bargaining rights with unions. Legal challenges provide an alternative path to restoring union rights.