Largest Federal Employees’ Union Announces Massive Layoffs Following Trump Measures

The AFGE Announces Layoffs.

New Measures from Trump.

Controversy Within Politics.

The largest federal employees’ union in the United States is facing a deep crisis.

It is preparing to lay off more than half of its staff in response to measures pushed by former President Donald Trump.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) announced that it will reduce its workforce from 355 to approximately 150 employees starting in June.

This drastic decision comes after Trump eliminated collective bargaining rights for thousands of federal employees through an executive order.

The AFGE Announces Massive Layoffs Following Trump’s Order

The AFGE announces layoffs after Trump’s measures – Photo: MundoNOW File via Getty Images

AFGE, which represents over 800,000 workers in federal agencies, stated that despite the cuts, it will continue to defend the rights of its members.

“Eliminating elective dues and forcing layoffs is a setback, but we will not give up,” the union declared in an official statement.

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The reduction will affect organizers, national representatives, support staff, and other key areas essential to the union’s operations.

According to AFGE, Trump’s actions not only weaken unions but aim to suppress resistance to his policies within the federal government.

Trump’s executive order, signed in March, stripped tens of thousands of employees of their bargaining rights in more than a dozen agencies.

The administration defended the move as an action to strengthen national security and curb unions that, according to them, “declared war” on the presidential agenda.

The White House identified AFGE as a primary target, accusing it of obstructing policies through massive complaints and lawsuits.

Although a federal judge recently suspended parts of the executive order following a lawsuit from the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the ruling does not cover enough AFGE members to halt the layoffs.

The biggest financial blow came from a directive by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ordering the elimination of automatic union dues deductions from paychecks.

For unions like AFGE, these deductions represent their main source of operational funding.

Since the measure was implemented, the NTEU—the second-largest federal union—has already lost over two million dollars in revenue.

AFGE has also reported considerable losses and fears it may not recover financial stability in the short term.

In an effort to adapt, AFGE launched a campaign urging its members to pay dues directly through an electronic system.

However, the majority of its members still rely on automatic payroll deductions, complicating the transition process.

Despite these challenges, the union has seen a slight increase in new memberships since Trump assumed the presidency.

Nevertheless, the rapid reduction in the federal workforce during Trump’s administration has led to a decrease in the union’s membership base.

It is estimated that over 100,000 public employees lost their jobs during Trump’s term, directly impacting union representation.

AFGE has responded by repeatedly taking the Trump administration to court, challenging layoffs and legally contesting the elimination of collective bargaining rights.

Additionally, the union has organized nationwide protests to bring visibility to its struggle and defend the labor rights of public employees.

Analysts note that attacks on federal unions are part of a broader strategy to weaken organized structures within the government.

Meanwhile, AFGE reaffirms that it will not be intimidated and will continue fighting, even if its operational structure must adapt to the new realities.

The current crisis highlights the vulnerability of unions to political and administrative changes driven from the executive branch.

Labor organizations across the country are watching the future of AFGE with concern, viewing it as a bastion in the defense of federal workers’ rights.

The union struggle could intensify in the coming months amid new legal and financial challenges, according to ‘CNN‘.