Federal agencies FEMA and USCIS have terminated collective bargaining agreements.
In a move that could significantly impact federal employee unions, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have cancelled their collective bargaining agreements, citing national security concerns [1][2]. This decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to strip two-thirds of the federal workforce of their collective bargaining rights.
The executive order, issued in March 2025, aims to limit union influence in many federal agencies [2]. Although a federal appeals court has allowed the administration to proceed with the plan, it was under the condition that agencies would wait until ongoing litigation concluded before officially ending union contracts [1]. However, USCIS and FEMA have moved forward with the cancellations, prompting lawsuits from unions representing federal workers.
The National Association of Agricultural Employees, among others, has sued the administration, arguing that revoking collective bargaining rights violates constitutional protections under the First and Fifth Amendments [1]. These lawsuits challenge the justification of national security for such sweeping changes and seek to block the removal of the unions.
AFGE Local 4060, which represents FEMA employees, has vowed to continue fighting the Trump administration in court over this decision [1]. Similarly, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the National Citizenship and Immigration Services Council have also expressed their intention to challenge the cancellations at USCIS.
The Washington Post first reported the news of USCIS and FEMA ending their collective bargaining agreements. Neither USCIS nor FEMA responded to requests for comment on their decisions to terminate the union contracts [1]. Internal agency documents and federal union officials have confirmed the cancellations, effective immediately [1].
This action is not isolated. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency have also terminated their union contracts and cancelled all use of official time for union representatives [1]. The agencies' actions follow an appeals court decision that allowed the Trump administration to move forward with implementing Trump's March 27 executive order.
The future of these collective bargaining agreements remains uncertain as the litigation continues. AFGE National President Everett Kelley has vowed to continue fighting in court over Trump's anti-union actions and believes AFGE will ultimately prevail [1]. For updates on this developing story, you can contact Drew Friedman at drew.friedman@ourwebsite or on Signal at drewfriedman.11.
References: [1] The Washington Post. (2025). USCIS and FEMA cancel union contracts, citing national security concerns. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2025/08/30/uscis-fema-cancel-union-contracts-citing-national-security-concerns/ [2] The New York Times. (2025). Trump administration moves to limit union bargaining in federal agencies. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/us/politics/trump-union-bargaining-federal-agencies.html
- The office space of FEMA employees may experience significant changes as a result of the cancellation of their collective bargaining agreement with the agency, which is part of a broader policy-and-legislation initiative by the Trump administration.
- The decision to revoke the collective bargaining rights of federal workers, including those in the science field, raises concerns about workplace-wellness and health-and-legislation, as unions argue that this move violates constitutional protections under the First and Fifth Amendments.
- The ongoing legal challenges, including lawsuits from unions like the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), could impact general-news and politics, as the future of collective bargaining agreements in various federal agencies remains uncertain.
