House Pushes for Repeal of Trump’s Executive Order on Federal Unions

A bipartisan group of House members is urging the Senate to act on a bill aimed at overturning President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding federal unions. This comes from Rep. Jared Golden, a moderate Democrat from Maine.

On Thursday night, Golden managed to bring the bill to a vote despite not having much backing from the majority of House Republicans. Interestingly, the bill received support from 20 Republicans—a notable feat in a party where openly challenging Trump isn’t common.

Golden shared in an exclusive interview that, “When I said on the House floor that union collective bargaining rights are not a partisan issue, I truly meant it. The best proof is the union members themselves; they might vote Democratic or Republican. Not every member will cast a ballot, but knowing someone supports their collective bargaining rights can influence their decision.”

Initially introduced in April, the bill was resubmitted to the Senate in September. At this point, it has backing from Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, with Collins seemingly signing on after the bill’s passage in the House.

Golden noted, “I didn’t talk to her last night, but I’m genuinely pleased she chose to support this. It doesn’t surprise me; she’s a key senator known for her past endorsements of unions.” He also mentioned having discussions with “several” senators post-vote and indicated that a more focused effort would be underway soon.

Working alongside Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a moderate Republican who backed the bill in the House, Golden articulated the need for bipartisanship moving forward. “It’s been a long journey in the House. Patience and perseverance are key. We must create an environment where both parties can collaborate,” he said. “We’ve ensured that our Republican co-sponsors feel comfortable with our approach, and we’ll certainly adopt that strategy in the Senate.”

Golden anticipates that additional Republican senators will support the bill shortly.

Even though Sen. Josh Hawley had yet to endorse the bill by Friday afternoon, Golden referenced him as a “great example” of someone who supports labor initiatives. Hawley had also introduced a separate bipartisan bill earlier this year to expedite contracts for new unions, which is gaining favor from labor leaders.

In a related vein, Sen. Mark Warner introduced a similar version of the bill in the Senate, emphasizing that progress in the House strengthens the case in the Senate, and he aims to build upon this momentum.

It’s worth noting that removal petitions in the House are rarely successful; however, they are becoming more common as Republicans deal with a slim majority. In Golden’s instance, five House Republicans supported the petition alongside 213 Democrats.

Republican critics argue that federal unions operate differently from private-sector unions and that collective bargaining situations should differ when involving elected officials versus for-profit companies.