Washington, D.C. – December 11, 2025 In a rare act of bipartisan rebellion, 13 House Republicans joined Democrats in a 222-200 vote to advance a bill nullifying President Donald Trump’s March executive order that gutted collective bargaining rights for nearly one million federal workers across national security and healthcare agencies.
The procedural victory, forced by a discharge petition spearheaded by Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, sets the stage for a full House debate and final vote as early as Thursday on the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA). This “union-busting reversal” marks a bold check on Trump’s labor agenda, spotlighting fractures within the GOP as federal unions rally for a Senate showdown.
The Executive Order: Donald Trump’s ‘National Security’ Hammer on Federal Unions
Issued in March 2025, Donald Trump’s order banned collective bargaining in swaths of critical agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Energy, Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Agriculture. Framed as a bulwark against “union obstruction” to national security, it targeted workers—many veterans—handling everything from shipbuilding to veteran care. Federal employees already lack private-sector perks like wage negotiations or strikes, but the order yanked even basic input on working conditions.
Critics, including the AFL-CIO and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), slammed it as the “largest act of union-busting in American history.” Trump’s rationale? “Protecting America’s national security is a core constitutional duty, and President Donald Trump refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests.” The move aligned with his broader anti-union push, but PAWA aims to restore those rights, arguing they bolster—not hinder—government efficiency.
The Bipartisan Breakout: Golden’s Petition and 13 GOP Defectors
Golden, whose Maine district relies on federal shipyards and VA hospitals, bypassed GOP leadership via discharge petition—a rare tool needing majority signatures to force a vote. Five Republicans co-sponsored: Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA, lead), Don Bacon (R-NE), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), and Mike Lawler (R-NY). The vote’s GOP flippers? Jeff Van Drew (NJ), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), LaLota, Fitzpatrick, Bresnahan, Bacon, Lawler, Tom Kean (NJ), Ryan Mackenzie (PA), Zach Nunn (IA), Chris Smith (NJ), Pete Stauber (MN), and Mike Turner (OH)—defying party whips in a chamber where unity under Donald Trump is gospel.
Golden hailed the momentum: “President Donald Trump said ending collective bargaining was about protecting our national defense. But in my District, many affected workers build our warships and care for our veterans. These workers make our country safer and stronger every day. America did not vote to silence these workers, but this bill gives all of us a chance to restore their voice.” Fitzpatrick echoed: “Today’s vote is a reminder of what this House can accomplish when we honor its purpose and allow the people’s will to move forward. A bipartisan majority affirmed that protecting America’s security and respecting America’s workers are not competing priorities—they are inseparable.”
Union Cheers, White House Silence: Reactions Pour In
Labor leaders pounced. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler: “The labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing. We commend Representatives Golden and Fitzpatrick for leading us to a vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act and urge every lawmaker to support this bill.” AFGE’s Dr. Everett B. Kelley: “AFGE will forever be grateful to Congressman Golden for his tireless efforts to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees… I urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan Protect America’s Workforce Act.”
GOP holdouts? Muted, but the defection stings—13 rebels in a slim majority signals vulnerability on Trump’s labor flank. The White House, queried for comment, went dark outside business hours. Progressives see it as a crack in MAGA armor; conservatives decry “RINO sabotage.”
Path Forward: Senate Hurdle, Veto Threat, and Worker Stakes
If the House passes PAWA Thursday, it rockets to the Senate—where GOP Majority Leader John Thune holds veto-proof sway, but filibuster math (60 votes needed) could stall it. Donald Trump? A near-certain veto, forcing a two-thirds override battle. For the million affected workers, success means reclaimed voices; failure? Entrenched silence.
This vote isn’t just procedural—it’s a litmus test for GOP fealty vs. pragmatism, with midterms looming. As Golden put it, “If the majority we built over the past few months sticks together, we can overturn this union-busting executive order, and we can show America that this body will protect workers’ rights.” In Donald Trump’s Washington, even small wins feel seismic.
References
- Newsweek. “13 Republicans Vote to Nullify Donald Trump’s Executive Order on Federal Unions.” Dec. 11, 2025. Link
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