Trump officially signs document asserting the cancelation of late-term union agreements initiated during the Biden administration.

In the closing days of the Trump administration, several collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) were signed with unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). One such agreement, effective from January 17, 2022, was made with the Education Department in the United States.

However, President Trump signed a memo barring agencies from reaching new union contracts in the final days of a president's term. This memo, which seeks to unwind contracts that Trump claims were designed to hamstring his return-to-office mandate, also bans agencies from entering union contracts in the 30 days before a new president is sworn in.

The memo includes an exception for union contracts 'that primarily cover law enforcement officers.' Trump's memo tasks agencies with unwinding CBAs signed since Dec. 20, provided that the agency-head review process is not yet complete.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) signed a contract with AFGE in November 2021, which locked in existing telework policies until 2029. This move, along with other similar agreements, has been met with criticism from Trump, Elon Musk, and congressional Republicans.

In response, AFGE National President Everett Kelley dismissed Trump's memo as an effort to 'frighten and confuse' federal workers. He asserted that approved union contracts are enforceable by law, and the president does not have the authority to make unilateral changes to those agreements. Kelley also mentioned that AFGE members will not be intimidated and will aggressively defend their contracts if they are violated.

Recently, House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman James Comer published a letter to AFGE National President Everett Kelley for information regarding all collective bargaining agreements reached between the union and agencies since January 2024. This move indicates a growing scrutiny on these last-minute union contracts in the United States.

It is worth noting that on the eve of former President Biden's inauguration, the Trump administration signed a CBA with a union representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees that effectively gave the group veto power over agency policy changes.

AFGE spokeswoman Brittany Holder confirmed on Friday that its contract with the Education Department completed agency head review on Jan. 17. The details of the Education Department's contract have not been disclosed, nor have specifics about other CBAs been mentioned in the current context.

The debate over these last-minute union contracts continues, with both sides presenting their arguments. The future of these agreements and their impact on federal workforce policies in the United States remains uncertain.

Trump officially signs document asserting the cancelation of late-term union agreements initiated during the Biden administration.