Trump Administration Moves to End TSA Union Representation Despite Court Order
The Trump Administration is moving ahead with plans to strip 47,000 workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of their union representation, even though a court order is currently in place blocking such a move.
In a press release, TSA said a new labor framework will be implemented starting January 11, 2026, rescinding the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that TSA signed with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) in 2024. All voluntary dues collected via employee paycheck will be canceled in pay period one of 2026, as will all grievances and arbitrations filed.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem determined that TSA employees conducting screening “have a primary function of national security and shall not engage in collective bargaining or be represented for any purposes by any representative or organization.”
Secretary Noem also found that collective bargaining and exclusive representation for screening officers is inconsistent with efficient stewardship of taxpayer dollars and impedes the agility required to secure the traveling public.
Union Response
It’s the second attempt by DHS to terminate union representation at TSA. In June, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman issued a preliminary injunction blocking the termination, saying the decision would be retaliatory against AFGE. That case is still pending and is scheduled to go on trial in September.
AFGE vowed to fight the move to dissolve the CBA with all legal means possible, while AFGE Local 100 President Hydrick Thomas called the decision a “slap in the face” to TSA employees.
“Prior to having a union contract, many employees endured hostile work environments and workers felt like they didn’t have a voice on the job, which led to severe attrition rates and longer wait times for the traveling public,” said Thomas. “Since having a contract, we’ve seen a more stable workforce, and there has never been another aviation-related attack on our country.”
TSA received the right to unionize in 2022 when then-Administrator David Pekoske issued a determination that expanded collective bargaining at the agency to mirror the bargaining rights under Title 5. TSA and AFGE signed a seven-year collective bargaining agreement in 2024.