House Passes Bill to Repeal Trump’s Labor Union Order
On Thursday, a bipartisan group in the House of Representatives, consisting of 20 Republicans alongside Democrats, passed a bill aimed at reversing President Donald Trump’s executive order that limited most federal labor unions.
This initiative was spearheaded by Rep. Jared Golden from Maine, who mustered support for a vote by submitting an expulsion petition. Essentially, this strategy seemed to bypass the leadership’s preferences, attempting to emphasize the majority’s will among House members.
The legislation, named the American Workforce Protection Act, targets Trump’s executive order issued in March 2025, which has drawn criticism for restricting collective bargaining rights across several federal departments, including Defense, State, and Veterans Affairs.
The final tally for the vote showed 231 in favor and 195 against, with all opposition votes coming from Republican members.
During discussions, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer from Kentucky expressed concerns, arguing that repealing Trump’s order could inadvertently promote “expanded telecommuting for federal employees,” which he claims contradicts what voters wanted when they supported Trump and the Republican Party.
Comer further elaborated that public sector unions operate differently than those in the private sector, indicating that only Franklin Delano Roosevelt ever acknowledged such distinctions. In his view, public sector negotiations occur not with private companies but directly with elected representatives, complicating matters further.
Rep. Brandon Gill from Texas shared his disapproval, suggesting labor leaders favor the bill mainly because it safeguards their telework privileges and could undermine the authority of a newly elected president seeking to reform the federal workforce.
On the other hand, House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York pointed out that collective bargaining is an essential right for workers, expressing gratitude for the bipartisan effort to restore these rights to over one million federal employees.
Rep. Rob Bresnahan from Pennsylvania highlighted that many federal employees in his district would greatly benefit from reinstated bargaining rights, stating it’s crucial for fair wages and safe working conditions, which include emergency responders and caregivers.
While supporting the bill, Rep. Mike Lawler emphasized that many public servants are veterans who diligently serve the nation and deserve a voice in their workplace.
The use of removal petitions isn’t common, but they’ve become more frequent this year as the Republican majority faces challenges. In this instance, five House Republicans joined forces with 213 Democrats to sign Golden’s petition.
A procedural vote on Wednesday had previously secured support from 13 Republicans, paving the way for the final vote to take place. Early Thursday saw that support increase, with 22 Republicans voting in favor of advancing the bill.
However, for the measure to be enacted, it still requires approval from the Senate and ultimately needs to be signed by President Trump.
