House Republicans Join Democrats to Repeal Trump’s Union Order

On Wednesday night, a notable event unfolded as 13 House Republicans partnered with Democrats to advance a bill aimed at overturning President Donald Trump’s executive order that targeted federal labor unions.

This initiative was led by Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine, who employed an expulsion petition to prompt a vote on the issue, effectively bypassing the party leadership’s preferences. The strategy hinges on garnering majority support from House members.

The motion to move forward with the bill passed by a narrow margin of 222-200, with all 209 voting Democrats supporting it alongside a handful of Republicans. However, the bill is expected to face additional procedural hurdles on Thursday.

If it clears this preliminary vote, the final vote to repeal the executive order will also take place on the same day.

Among the Republicans who supported the bill are Rep. Jeff Van Drew from New Jersey, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis from New York, and several others from both red and blue states. Interestingly, five Republicans signed on to Golden’s petition, aligning with the 213 Democrats who back this legislative push.

The proposed legislation, titled the American Workforce Protection Act, seeks to undo Trump’s directive from March 2025, which restricted collective bargaining rights at various federal agencies. This order impacted employees in significant departments such as Defense, State, and Homeland Security.

Although expulsion petitions do not usually gain traction in the House, some Republicans who backed this bill may be dealing with redistricting challenges or represent areas where bipartisan efforts are critical.

This year has seen an increase in such legislative maneuvers, as Republicans grapple with their slim majority, which limits their margin for partisan dissent.

The forthcoming debates in the House will determine the bill’s fate before it heads to the Senate and, ultimately, seeks the president’s signature to become law.