On May 1st, workers rallied in over 1,000 cities, part of the long tradition of May Day—an international call for stronger worker protections. One group of workers whose rights are getting renewed attention: federal employees. A recent executive order scaled back their ability to collectively bargain, which coupled with the mass firing under DOGE, has added new pressure on federal workers.
Has this resulted in improved efficiency? Or has the public been feeling the cost? A new bill aims to put federal employees—aka the invisible scaffolding of your daily life—back on stable ground.
HEREBY HIGHLIGHTED
The Protect America's Workforce Act
Introduced in April 2025, this bipartisan bill aims to undo the effects of that executive order that stripped collective bargaining rights from workers in agencies with ties to national security.
If passed, this bill would:
- Reaffirm collective bargaining rights for ~67% of federal workers
- Expand workplace protections across dozens of agencies
- Make it harder for future administrations to go after unions they don’t like
The Debate Floor
Here’s a breakdown of the arguments on both sides.
Supporters might argue that the bill:
- Restores and defends workers, the middle class, and democracy
- Addresses existing bargaining limits for federal workers
- Expands workplace safety and whistleblower protections
Naysayers might argue that it:
- Exposes the government to dangerous inefficiency and higher costs
- Risks union leader overreach and reduced management flexibility
- Makes the U.S. vulnerable to national security concerns
This bill is backed by the largest federation of labor unions in the U.S. (the AFL-CIO) and just about every federal union with a functioning printer. But more importantly, it’s backed by the idea that public sector workers aren’t robots—they’re people. It means protecting the people who make sure food is safe, borders are secure, and benefits get processed on time. When those workers lose their voice, we all feel the impact.
