US judge reinstates union contract for 320,000 veterans’ agency workers

Friday 13 March 2026 - 23:40

A federal judge has reinstated a union bargaining agreement covering 320,000 employees of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, reversing a cancellation that was carried out under an executive order by former President Donald Trump.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose in Providence, Rhode Island, addresses one of the most significant cases arising from Trump’s 2025 executive order that limited collective bargaining rights for most federal employees.

Judge DuBose sided with the American Federation of Government Employees, which argued that the Veterans Affairs agency canceled the agreement in August 2025 in retaliation for the union’s opposition to administration labor policies.

The Department of Veterans Affairs had defended its decision by citing its national security role, claiming that it was exempt from collective bargaining because it provides essential backup healthcare services required by the military during wartime or emergencies.

However, the judge found no evidence that national security concerns motivated the contract cancellation and ordered the agreement reinstated pending the outcome of ongoing litigation. The decision highlights federal courts’ oversight of labor rights and the limits of executive authority over collective bargaining for federal employees.