Exemption of Agencies with National Security Missions from Federal Collective Bargaining Obligations, as Decreed by President Donald J. Trump

NASA, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), and the National Weather Service (NWS) are just a few of the agencies that develop and operate advanced air and space technologies critical for U.S. national security. However, these operations can sometimes be delayed due to Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and midterm union bargaining.

In a bid to address these delays, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at ending collective bargaining with Federal unions in agencies with national security missions. This action does not affect the expiration of existing CBAs, but it may impact the negotiation process for future CBAs in agencies with national security responsibilities.

The President's action is focused on agencies whose operations could be impacted by delays due to CBAs and union bargaining. These include law enforcement, border protection, military-related agencies, and public diplomacy arms like the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The intensified use of surveillance technologies like Palantir software across these agencies has been a key part of Trump's administration's strategy to strengthen these areas.

The Bureau of Reclamation, which operates 53 hydropower plants, is another agency whose operations could be delayed. The bureau's plants generate enough electricity to power 3.8 million homes and provide critical black start capacity.

The Office of the Commissioner of Patents, Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) also plays a role in safeguarding national security. The PTO reviews inventions made in the United States for potential harm to national security and issues secrecy orders if necessary.

President Trump's action is a step towards enabling agencies with national security responsibilities to implement policies swiftly and fulfill their critical missions. The President's goal is to create a more responsive and accountable civil service to protect national security, responding to concerns about delays in agency operations due to current CBAs and union bargaining, particularly in the context of national security. This action is part of a broader effort to ensure a responsive and accountable civil service that prioritizes national security.

Exemption of Agencies with National Security Missions from Federal Collective Bargaining Obligations, as Decreed by President Donald J. Trump