VA Terminates Union Contracts, Affects 377,000 Employees Immediately

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Wednesday it is terminating collective bargaining agreements with most federal employee unions, impacting about 377,000 employees, more than three-quarters of the VA’s total workforce.

This decision follows an executive order signed by President Trump in March that used national security as a basis to eliminate collective bargaining rights for a majority of federal workers. Five unions are affected: the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, and the Service Employees International Union.

VA Secretary Doug Collins stated, “Too often, unions that represent VA employees fight against the best interests of veterans while protecting and rewarding bad workers.” The agency hopes this move will allow its employees to focus more on serving veterans, as they claim union activities distract from veteran care.

Officials noted that there were around 4,000 employees in exempt roles, including police and firefighters, who will not see changes to their contracts. The VA’s workforce totals approximately 483,000 according to recent records.

Collins emphasized the necessity of these changes by saying, “We’re making sure VA resources and employees are singularly focused on the job we were sent here to do: providing top-notch care and service to those who wore the uniform.”

The American Federation of Government Employees criticized the terminations as “outrageous,” asserting they are retaliatory actions for the union’s opposition to proposed cuts affecting veterans. President Everett Kelley declared, “We don’t apologize for protecting veteran healthcare and will continue to fight for our members and the veterans they care for.”

Unions are currently pursuing legal action to contest the executive order and its implications. A recent appeal ruling permitted the administration to move forward with contract terminations despite previous legal obstacles.

As the VA proceeds with these changes, multiple advocacy groups and lawmakers voice concern that the loss of bargaining rights may adversely affect the quality of healthcare provided to veterans, particularly amid ongoing staffing shortages.