A federal appeals court has kept the Department of Veterans Affairs’ collective-bargaining agreement in place for roughly 300,000 employees while a lawsuit over a March 2025 executive order moves forward, according to FNN — Unions.
- Ruling: A federal appeals court declined to lift a lower-court order that preserves the VA’s union contract during ongoing litigation, FNN — Unions reported.
- Who’s affected: About 300,000 VA employees covered by the agreement.
- What’s at issue: A March 2025 executive order that sought to eliminate collective bargaining across more than 20 federal agencies, including the VA, according to FNN — Unions.
- Status: The case remains active; the court’s action keeps existing labor terms in effect for now, pending further court proceedings.
- Scope: The dispute centers on federal labor-management rights and the government’s authority to curtail bargaining via executive action, as described by FNN — Unions.
Brief context
The VA is one of the federal government’s largest civilian employers, and its labor agreement governs day-to-day workplace rules that can include procedures for scheduling, leave administration, performance processes, discipline and grievances, and how management implements certain workplace changes.
FNN — Unions reported that the lawsuit challenges the March 2025 executive order’s attempt to end collective bargaining across multiple agencies. The appeals court’s decision to leave the VA contract in place does not resolve the underlying legal questions; it preserves the status quo while judges consider the merits.
What it means for you
For VA employees covered by the contract, the immediate effect is continuity:
- Workplace procedures stay in force under the existing agreement while the case proceeds.
- Union representation and negotiated processes for disputes and workplace changes remain available under the current contract terms.
- No immediate contract voiding based solely on the executive order while the court order remains in place.
Employees should watch for agency guidance and union updates as the litigation continues, since later rulings could change how bargaining rights apply at VA and other agencies covered by the executive order.
Source: FNN — Unions