In a rare bipartisan move that reshapes the national debate over federal labor rights, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to reinstate collective bargaining protections for hundreds of thousands of federal employees. The measure directly overturns two controversial executive orders issued earlier this year by President Donald Trump that dissolved many union agreements across federal agencies under the justification of national security.
The legislation, known as the Protect America’s Workforce Act, passed 231–195, with every Democrat and 20 Republicans supporting the bill. Its approval followed an unusual procedural maneuver: a discharge petition pushed forward by Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine). The petition gathered 218 signatures – a threshold rarely reached – forcing the bill onto the House floor despite initial Republican resistance. Five GOP lawmakers joined Democrats to propel the petition forward.
Trump’s orders, issued in March and August, directed most federal agencies to terminate existing union contracts, a move that affected nearly one million public servants across departments including Defense, State, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and Justice. Supporters of the new bill argue the executive actions stripped long-standing protections from essential federal workers, many of whom serve in high-risk or high-demand environments.
“These are career public servants who show up every day to keep our country functioning,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), one of the Republicans who broke with party leadership. “Restoring their rights is not a partisan act – it’s a recognition of their sacrifice.”
Democratic lawmakers echoed that sentiment. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) highlighted the broad impact on frontline personnel such as nurses, firefighters, airport staff, and law enforcement officers. “We rely on these workers in moments of crisis and calm,” Garcia said. “Removing their ability to collectively advocate for safe workplaces and fair conditions undermines the nation’s stability.”
Opponents argued that the executive orders were essential to strengthening accountability within federal agencies. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) insisted that Trump’s approach aimed to curb what he described as excessive union influence. “The president has been correcting deals that place the interests of public-sector unions above those of taxpayers,” Comer said during the debate.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) added that the legislation would reinforce what he called “bureaucratic protections,” including telework arrangements and grievance processes he believes slow agency efficiency.
Union leaders, however, cheered the House vote. Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the decision signaled a clear stance in favor of equitable labor practices. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler went further, calling Trump’s original directives “the most sweeping act of union suppression in modern federal history.”
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain. A companion proposal introduced by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) has attracted only one Republican supporter – Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Given the Senate’s filibuster rules, Democratic and Independent senators would need at least 13 Republican votes to advance the measure.
Even if the Senate passes the bill, the White House has not indicated whether President Trump would sign legislation reversing his own executive orders. Lawmakers acknowledge a presidential veto is likely, meaning any final approval could require a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers.
For now, the House vote marks the first significant legislative pushback against Trump’s federal workforce policies during his second term, opening a new chapter in the ongoing struggle over the balance between government authority and employee rights.
