Catherwood LibraryILR School

Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn and Mike Lee have introduced the Federal Workforce Freedom Act, which seeks to eliminate federal labor unions and collective bargaining in the government. They argue that union activities reduce efficiency and that federal employees should be hired and managed based on merit, not union negotiations. The bill follows Trump-era efforts to curtail labor rights at the Transportation Security Administration and reduce government bureaucracy. Critics, including federal labor unions, see this as an attack on workers' rights and an attempt to weaken organized labor’s influence in government. The legislation faces strong opposition and is unlikely to pass without significant Republican support.