AFSCME and AFGE sue Trump over executive order on union rights

The ongoing battle over collective bargaining rights at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has escalated as two major labor unions take legal action against President Trump and his administration. This lawsuit comes in response to an executive order that removed these rights from employees at USAGM and its affiliate, Voice of America (VOA).

Unions Challenge Executive Order

On August 28, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a lawsuit against the administration, arguing that the executive order undermines the First Amendment rights of journalists and media professionals employed at USAGM and VOA. These workers, represented by AFGE Local 1812 and AFSCME Local 1418, are accusing the administration of attempting to silence them by stripping away their collective bargaining rights.

"The dedicated professionals at Voice of America and USAGM have made it their life’s work to champion free press and deliver the truth — even to the world’s most oppressive regimes,” stated AFSCME President Lee Saunders. He further condemned the executive order as a retaliatory act against workers who are committed to preserving free speech.

AFGE National President Everett Kelley also expressed concerns, highlighting a pattern of actions by President Trump aimed at curbing free speech. According to Kelley, “Now his administration is going after working journalists at Voice of America and USAGM by stripping away their right to organize and speak up without fear of retaliation.”

Legal and Procedural History

Earlier this year, AFSCME and AFGE had joined other unions in suing USAGM and its Acting Director, Victor Morales, over the agency's closure. In April, a federal judge ordered operations to resume and employees to return, but the administration's appeal led to a stay, allowing them to pursue workforce reductions. The unions successfully objected to these reductions, identifying procedural errors that led to the rescinding of the plans.

Subsequently, on August 28, an executive order was issued to broaden the scope of agencies exempted from collective bargaining, including USAGM and VOA. This order follows a court decision on August 25, requiring agency officials to explain their compliance efforts with the earlier injunction, described by the court as a “one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial.”

Seeking Legal Intervention

In response to these developments, AFSCME and AFGE are now requesting that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issue a preliminary injunction to reinstate the collective bargaining rights of USAGM and VOA employees. The unions continue to assert that these actions by the administration are part of a broad effort to suppress journalistic independence and free speech.