House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Restore Federal Workers' Union Rights

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Protect America’s Workforce Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at restoring collective-bargaining rights to federal workers who lost them under an executive order.

What the bill does

The legislation would repeal an executive order that stripped union representation and collective-bargaining rights from large numbers of federal employees. Supporters say it restores protections that many federal workers had relied on for decades.

The vote

The House passed the measure 231–195, a bipartisan margin. The bill was led by Rep. Jared Golden (Maine) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania).

Where it stands

This is a key point: passing the House is not the same as becoming law. The bill now goes to the Senate, and it would still need to be signed by the President to take effect. Until then, nothing has changed for federal workers’ bargaining rights.

What it means for you

Most private-sector workers’ right to organize comes from the National Labor Relations Act, but federal employees are covered by a separate federal law — which is what this bill is about. The outcome will decide whether many federal workers can again bargain collectively through a union. To understand the broader right to organize, read our breakdown of the National Labor Relations Act.

Educational only — not legal advice.