EPA Ends Federal Union Contracts, Following Department of Veterans Affairs
TL/DR –
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it will no longer recognise its federal unions and has terminated all collective bargaining agreements immediately. Impacted unions include the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Government Employees, the Engineers and Scientists of California, and the National Association of Independent Labor. The move follows a similar decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the passing of President Trump’s executive order aiming to eliminate collective bargaining at most federal agencies.
EPA Severs Federal Union Contracts Immediately
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has become the second agency this week to abolish its union contracts, following the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Written by Drew Friedman (@dfriedmanWFED)
August 8, 2025
3 min read
EPA Abrogates Federal Collective Bargaining Agreements
The EPA announced on Friday that it has decided to suspend recognition of its federal unions, effectively terminating all collective bargaining agreements.
Unions such as the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Government Employees, the Engineers and Scientists of California, and the National Association of Independent Labor received email notifications about this development from EPA’s Office of Mission Support.
“EPA’s contracts with AFGE, NAGE R4, NAGE Narraganset, ESC and NAIL are terminated,” the email reads.
Implications of EPA’s Decision
Union leaders are expected to focus entirely on agency business during official work hours, with union-related activities permitted only outside scheduled work hours. The EPA intends to reclaim all office space currently in use by union members and will no longer acknowledge grievance procedures.
In response, AFGE Local 238, which represents over 8,000 EPA employees, described the EPA’s decision as unlawful and an attack on democracy.
In a statement, the EPA claimed it was simply complying with President Trump’s executive orders pertaining to AFGE.
The VA also terminated most of its union contracts on Wednesday, ending collective bargaining for over 370,000 federal employees.
Background of the Union Contract Termination
The decision to terminate union contracts follows a ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granting the Trump administration’s request to proceed with the cancellation of collective bargaining agreements.
Trump’s executive order in March sought to abolish collective bargaining at most federal agencies, citing national security reasons.
Federal unions sued the Trump administration, alleging that Trump’s order was retribution for unions expressing their First Amendment rights. The appeals court, however, determined that regardless of the federal unions’ constitutionally protected speech, President Trump would have likely cancelled the union contracts based on the language of the executive order.
Contact Information
For more information on recent changes in the federal government, email drew.friedman@federalnewsnetwork.com.
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