Defense Secretary Hegseth Orders An End to DOD Collective Bargaining - IFPTE Locals are Currently Protected by Court Injunction
Last Friday, a memo signed by Defense Secretary Hegseth ordered the elimination of all collective bargaining agreements across the entire Department of Defense (DOD) impacted by President Trump’s illegal March 23, 2025, executive order. The order, however, does not currently apply to IFPTE Locals, and several other Unions due to the injunction we were awarded in our ongoing legal challenge to the order.
While the Trump Administration is challenging our injunction, IFPTE Locals across the DOD, which there are many, will continue to operate as usual. International President Matt Biggs commented that, “it is not surprising, but it is disappointing that Secretary Hegseth took the step to attempt to bust Unions across the DOD, which employs upwards of 770,000 civilian workers. We are heartened that our members are protected by the injunction we won last year in our ongoing legal challenge. But we also realize that the legal process is a cumbersome one and we are in for the long haul. IFPTE’s Unions across the DOD and federal sector will continue to represent, continue to grow, and continue to fight.” Secretary-Treasurer, Gay Henson, also weighed-in, saying, “Rest assured that IFPTE is in this fight until we win it. In the meantime, we encourage our Locals to continue to organize, sign-up members through EDues, and understand that our Unions will survive and thrive despite these attacks.”
As we move through the legal process, IFPTE will keep all impacted Locals well informed.