Are VA and Federal Nurses Losing Their Union Rights? Trump's New Executive Order Explained

President Trump recently signed an executive order that could impact over 1 million federal employees' union rights, including nurses employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies. The executive order titled "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs" was signed on March 27, 2025.

The executive order specifically targets agencies with "national security missions," explicitly including the VA because it "serves as the backstop healthcare provider for wounded troops in wartime". This classification provides the administration's justification for removing the VA from federal labor-management relations programs that have protected workers' rights for decades.

Executive Order Key Highlights

1. President Trump signed an executive order titled "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs" that could strip over 1 million federal workers, including nurses at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), of their union rights and collective bargaining power.

2. The order cites national security as the justification for ending collective bargaining rights at numerous federal agencies like the VA, which "serves as the backstop healthcare provider for wounded troops in wartime."

3. Federal employee unions representing nurses and other workers would lose their status as exclusively recognized labor organizations under the order. Nearly one-third of federal employees are veterans.

4. The broad scope targeting agencies with "national security missions" like the VA suggests this executive order could strip federal nurses of their union rights and protections.

Union Statements

National Nurses United, the largest union for nurses, released the following statement: 

"Registered nurses are appalled by this latest executive order that seeks to strip federal employees, including 15,000 registered nurses with National Nurses United, of their protected union rights. As union nurses, we know this is union busting. Our nurses have been on the front lines, calling out this administration's attempts to dismantle and privatize our VA system. This latest attempt is a brazen effort to intimidate and silence us.

We will never abandon our patients, and we will continue to fight for the funding and safe staffing levels that our patients deserve. As nurses who care for our nation’s veterans, we know the VA is the best place for our patients to receive care, and study after study shows the VA provides far superior care to the private sector.

As union nurses, we understand that collective bargaining rights are fundamental to carrying out our critical role as patient advocates. It is because of VA nurses' ability to speak up about patient safety concerns through our union that our nation's veterans receive the highest level of care. We know that unionized hospitals have better outcomes than non-unionized hospitals, as nurses and other staff are able to speak up about their concerns and hold management accountable. Veterans deserve nurses who are free to advocate for their care without fear of retaliation, discipline, or losing their jobs.

Stripping bargaining rights for federal workers puts all worker protections in danger throughout the country. As members of National Nurses United, we contend that this executive order is a broad overreach of executive power and the union is exploring legal action.”

"This executive order represents an unprecedented attack on the rights of federal workers who dedicate their lives to caring for our nation's veterans," said the president of a major federal employee union representing VA nurses. "Without collective bargaining rights, nurses lose their voice in decisions that affect both their working conditions and the quality of care they can provide."

Union representatives from Chicago VA facilities have expressed particular concern about the potential impact on patient care. "The ability to advocate for proper resources and safe working conditions directly affects our capacity to provide quality care," said a nurse representative. "Removing these protections will devastate care delivery at a time when veterans need us most".

Legal Challenges

Legal challenges to the executive order are already being prepared. Labor organizations argue that the broad application of "national security" justifications to civilian healthcare operations stretches beyond reasonable interpretation of existing law. They contend that the order violates both the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and constitutional protections.

The coming weeks will likely determine whether federal nurses maintain their long-established union rights or face a new workplace reality with significantly diminished collective voice and protections.

🤔 Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.