In a significant legal victory for federal labor unions, a Washington state federal judge has issued a temporary injunction halting the Trump administration’s efforts to terminate collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees.
Judge Marsha Pechman ruled Monday in favor of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over an order—known as the “Noem Determination”—that sought to end negotiated union contracts protecting nearly 47,000 TSA officers nationwide.
Pechman’s preliminary injunction highlights the strength of the AFGE’s case, emphasizing that the DHS action appears to be “impermissible retaliation” against the union for resisting what the judge described as the administration’s broader “assault on federal workers.”
“The Noem Determination likely violates due process,” Judge Pechman wrote, criticizing DHS for abruptly dismantling the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) without offering any prior notice or opportunity for negotiation.
The ruling also points to potential violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, labeling the DHS move “arbitrary and capricious,” and criticizing its mischaracterization of the union’s role and dismissal of the 2024 labor agreement.
This legal battle began after DHS revealed plans in early March to end collective bargaining for certain TSA employees, citing concerns that union officials were spending excessive time on full-time union work instead of essential airport screening duties. According to DHS, 86% of U.S. airports were impacted by this shift, which the agency claimed undermined its core mission to protect transportation systems and ensure public safety.
The AFGE has vehemently opposed these claims. AFGE National President Everett Kelley slammed the administration’s move as an “unprovoked attack,” arguing it was based on “completely fabricated” justifications unrelated to safety or efficiency.
“This action is a clear pretext to strip hardworking Americans of their union rights,” Kelley said, vowing to continue fighting the administration’s efforts in court.
As this high-profile case unfolds, the ruling marks an important moment in the ongoing struggle between federal workers’ unions and the Trump administration’s push to limit their influence — a conflict with major implications for labor rights and national security operations alike.
