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More than a dozen Republicans broke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, joining Democrats to advance legislation that would overturn one of the administration’s major executive actions.
The House voted 222–200 to move forward with a bill aimed at nullifying a March executive order that eliminated collective bargaining rights for approximately one million federal employees.
Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine, led the effort. He brought the bill to the floor through a discharge petition — a procedural tool that allows lawmakers to force consideration of legislation even when House leadership opposes it, provided the measure has support from a majority of members, Newsweek reported.
The 13 Republicans are: Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Tom Kean, R-N.J., Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, Chris Smith, R-N.J., Pete Stauber, R-Minn., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio.
Golden’s bill, known as the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA), would reinstate collective bargaining rights for federal employees across a range of agencies involved in national security, health care, and veterans’ services. Many of the affected workers are military veterans.
Trump’s executive order barred collective bargaining in several federal departments, including portions of the Departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Energy.
It also applied to certain employees within the Departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Agriculture.
Federal employees, unlike workers in the private sector, already operate under limited union rights.
They are prohibited from striking and cannot collectively bargain over wages or benefits, though unions are permitted to negotiate on certain workplace conditions.
The House voted Wednesday to advance Golden’s bill, clearing the way for floor debate and a final vote.
The measure secured backing from nearly all Democrats as well as five Republican co-sponsors: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Don Bacon, Rob Bresnahan, Nick LaLota, and Mike Lawler. Four additional Republicans also co-sponsored the legislation but did not sign the discharge petition.
“President Trump said ending collective bargaining was about protecting our national defense. But in my District, many affected workers build our warships and care for our veterans.
These workers make our country safer and stronger every day. America did not vote to silence these workers, but this bill gives all of us a chance to restore their voice,” Golden said, per Newsweek.
“If the majority we built over the past few months sticks together, we can overturn this union-busting executive order, and we can show America that this body will protect workers’ rights,” he added.
Fitzpatrick, the GOP co-sponsor, noted: “Today’s vote is a reminder of what this House can accomplish when we honor its purpose and allow the people’s will to move forward. A bipartisan majority affirmed that protecting America’s security and respecting America’s workers are not competing priorities — they are inseparable.”
He went on: “Federal workers, many of whom are veterans, are the backbone of our public service. When they have a voice in the decisions that shape their work, our government is more stable, more capable, and better prepared to serve the American people. I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Golden in leading this bipartisan effort. Tomorrow, let’s carry this unity across the finish line, and restore the rights that keep our federal workforce — and the nation they serve — strong.”
Liz Shuler, president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations union, said: “The labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing.”
