Unions Challenge Executive Order Silencing Federal Workers' Advocacy

Unions Seek Legal Block on Executive Order Affecting Federal Workers

National Nurses United (NNU), alongside other labor unions, is set to present its case for a preliminary injunction against a recent executive order from the Trump administration. The hearing is scheduled for June 18 at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The unions have filed a lawsuit alleging that the order illegally revokes union rights for over a million federal employees as a form of retribution for their opposition to the administration's policies.

The lawsuit is backed by several unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE-SEIU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Nancy Hagans, RN, president of NNU, expressed concern over the impact on nurses, particularly those working in Veterans Affairs hospitals. “The safety and the well-being of our veteran patients is dependent on the ability of nurses to speak out and advocate without the threat of retaliation or intimidation,” she stated.

Details of the Hearing

What: Preliminary injunction hearing for lawsuit by federal workers’ unions

When: Wednesday, June 18, 10 a.m.

Where: U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, Courtroom 11, 19th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco

Hagans emphasized the determination of nurses to continue advocating despite the challenges. “We know this administration wants to bust our unions, demoralize workers, and destroy the VA to privatize veterans' health care. But nurses are fierce defenders of decency and health care and we will not allow these punitive actions to silence us,” she declared.

The unions accuse the executive order, issued on March 27, 2025, of infringing on their First Amendment rights. They argue that it targets those who have taken legal and public stands against the administration's policies. The order's accompanying fact sheet describes federal unions as "hostile" and accuses them of opposing the administration's agenda.

Additionally, the order grants discretion to the secretaries of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to reinstate bargaining rights selectively, which the unions claim creates a chilling effect, discouraging them from opposing the administration's policies.

National Nurses United represents over 225,000 registered nurses across the United States and includes affiliates such as the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.