9th Circuit Allows Trump Order Ending Federal Union Bargaining

A federal appeals court for the 9th Circuit has lifted a lower court injunction that blocked President Trump's March executive order preventing collective bargaining for federal workers in certain agencies. The court ruled that the president's order, which exempts agencies with national security functions from union bargaining rights, was not retaliatory as alleged by plaintiffs including six labor unions such as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). The order had been previously blocked by U.S. District Judge James Donato, who found it violated workers' First Amendment rights by targeting unions critical of the administration. Despite the appeals court allowing the order to proceed, the affected agencies were directed to hold off on ending agreements until litigation concludes, and unions like the AFGE have vowed to continue legal challenges. The ruling reflects a significant move by the Trump administration to curtail union influence in federal agencies, sparking strong criticism from union leaders who describe the order as an attack on workers' rights. The White House has not issued an immediate response to the ruling.