The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently terminated collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining-unit employees, following an executive order enacted earlier this year by President Trump that excludes certain federal agencies from labor-management relations programs.1
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO; National Association of Government Employees; National Federation of Federal Employees; National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United; and the Service Employees International Union were notified of the termination in early August.
Contracts covering the approximately 4000 VA police officers, firefighters, or security guards represented by these unions will remain in place, as those occupations are exempt from the executive order.
“Too often, unions that represent VA employees fight against the best interests of veterans while protecting and rewarding bad workers,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement issued by the VA. “We’re making sure VA resources and employees are singularly focused on the job we were sent here to do: providing top-notch care and service to those who wore the uniform.”
Reference
- Department of Veterans Affairs. VA terminates union contracts for most bargaining-unit employees [press release]. August 6, 2025. Accessed August 11, 2025. https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-terminates-union-contracts-for-most-bargaining-unit-employees/