Trump admin targets union rights for 47,000 workers

Secretary Noem moves to gut TSA officers’ collective bargaining agreements despite ongoing court challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 15, 2025) — Just as the December holiday rush starts at airports across the country, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is once again trying to strip Transportation Security Officers of their contract. Noem intends to cancel the contract for these AFGE members effective January 11, 2026. A previous attempt in March was blocked by a preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

This act of union-busting comes on the heels of a record-duration government shutdown, when TSA officers worked for more than a month without pay.

“Merely 30 days ago, Secretary Noem celebrated TSA officers for their dedication during the longest government shutdown in history,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley in a statement. “Today, she’s announcing a lump of coal right on time for the holidays: that she’s stripping those same dedicated officers of their union rights.”

Noem’s renewed attack on union rights comes as the Trump administration is facing its strongest congressional rebuke yet, with a bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives voting to restore collective bargaining rights to 1 million workers, rights Trump targeted in executive orders earlier this year. AFGE has been a strong advocate for the workers, defying pressure from the Trump administration to back down.

“This is DHS’ second attempt to union-bust TSA in explicit retaliation for members standing up for their rights, and comes as their union, AFGE, is still fighting for justice in court. A union contract ensures TSA officers can speak up about dangerous working conditions, shift scheduling, and more. Without those protections, we are all less safe,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in statement.

As TSA officers clock in this month to move millions of airline passengers through hundreds of airports safely, they’ll be facing uncertainty in their jobs come the new year. In a statement, AFGE Council 100 President Hydrick Thomas made clear why a union contract has been so important for the workers — and the flying public that relies on their efficient, effective work.

“TSA officers take pride in the work we perform on behalf of the American people – many of us joined the agency following the Sept. 11 attacks because we wanted to serve our country and make sure that the skies are safe for air travel,” said Thomas. “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. Since having a contract, we’ve seen a more stable workforce, and there has never been another aviation-related attack on our country.”

Labor roundly condemned this renewed attempt to strip TSA workers of their union, and called for Congress to take action to bring surety and stability to this critical federal workforce.

“We must pass the bipartisan Rights for the TSA Workforce Act (H.R. 2086) and the Protect America’s Workforce Act in the Senate to ensure that every federal worker, including TSA officers, are able to have a voice on the job. This fight has never been more urgent,” said Shuler.