AFSCME NEWS

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which would reverse President Trump’s executive order stripping union freedoms from one million federal workers: “We applaud the House of Representatives for passing the Protect America’s Workforce Act – a bill that strengthens federal workers’ freedoms on the job so they can continue to keep our nation safe, healthy a

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted an emergency stay of the Trump Administration’s rule, issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), that would have prohibited DACA recipients, asylum seekers, asylees, refugees, and other immigrants with work authorization from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses and permits. The order halts the harmful anti-immigrant rule while the rule is being challenged in the ap

A judge issued a preliminary injunction from the bench today blocking the Trump administration from stripping Voice of America workers of their freedom to collectively bargain WASHINGTON – In a major victory for federal workers, today D.C. federal judge Paul Friedman granted a preliminary injunction, in an oral opinion delivered in open court, against the President, the United States Agency for Global Media (the agency that houses Voice of America), and USAGM Acting CEO K

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement on the end of the federal government shutdown: “AFSCME members have been clear from the start of this shutdown: we need to lower health care costs and fund public services. Unfortunately, this administration and the Project 2025 ideologues in Congress refused to come to the table to address the health care crisis gripping families across the country. We applaud all of the leaders in Congress who stood

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement on the United States Senate voting to end the government shutdown: "AFSCME members have been clear from the start: we need to fix the health care crisis and fully fund public services. Without action, working families will face rising costs, reduced care and communities that are sicker and less secure. But instead of solving problems, the billionaires in this administration and their friends in Congre

Unions Challenge Latest Attempt to Replace Career Civil Servants with Political Loyalists Boston — Despite the lapse in government funding, and the furloughing of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, the government continues to post new job opportunities, with a new and unlawful essay seeking loyalty to President Trump. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and National Association o

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after Virginians elected Abigail Spanberger to be the commonwealth’s next governor and an expanded pro-worker majority in the House of Delegates: “Like AFSCME members across Virginia, Abigail Spanberger has dedicated her career to supporting her neighbors. She’s fought to lower costs for families, expand access to health care, strengthen public education and improve the vital services Virginians rely

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after New Jersey voters elected Mikie Sherrill to be the state’s next governor: “Mikie Sherrill spent her life in public service, whether it was in the Navy or in Congress, putting people before politics. Her campaign has reflected her values, focusing squarely on what matters most to working people right now — lowering costs. From increasing access to great schools and quality hospitals to improving

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement on Tuesday’s election results: “Across the country, voters rejected chaos and rising costs, and chose candidates committed to making life affordable again for working families. As the longest government shutdown in American history continues, this is a wakeup call: the American people want affordable health care and fully funded public services, and it is time for Congress to deliver.”

Suit Seeks to Halt Radical PSLF Rewrite in United Front Against Department of Education’s Unconstitutional Attack on Teachers, Nurses, First Responders, and Advocates November 3, 2025 | BOSTON — AFSCME, alongside a broad coalition of over a dozen cities, labor unions, and nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The suit charges the Trump-Vance Administration with illegally hijacking the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF

Additional labor unions added to lawsuit challenging administration’s move to fire workers because of shutdown. SAN FRANCISCO – A federal court has extended its order barring the Trump administration from firing federal workers because of the government shutdown as litigation filed by labor unions proceeds. During a hearing Oct. 28 before Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, attorneys for the unions argued that the administra

Additional labor unions added to lawsuit as plaintiffs urge court to extend order barring agencies from firing workers during shutdown SAN FRANCISCO – Labor unions challenging the Trump administration’s illegal mass firing of federal employees during the government shutdown on Tuesday expanded their lawsuit to cover additional federal workers and asked the court to issue a preliminary injunction extending its order barring the administration from firing any workers as the lit

New Rule on Commercial Driver’s Licenses Will Eliminate the Jobs of Thousands of Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and DACA Recipients WASHINGTON, D.C. — Public Citizen Litigation Group, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) today filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to challenge a rule that threatens the livelihoods of nearly 200,000 people. Under the rule, is

AFSCME, AFGE filed lawsuit challenging administration’s reduction-in-force plans SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge today ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt the mass firing of federal employees initiated since the government has been shut down, siding with two labor unions that challenged the illegal action. Judge Susan Illston from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said the unions are likely to prove that the administration’s issu

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Trump administration announced it was using the federal government shutdown to illegally carry out mass firings of federal employees: “These mass firings are illegal and will have devastating effects on the services millions of Americans rely on every day. Whether it’s food inspectors, public safety workers, or the countless other public service workers who keep America running, federal empl

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Kent Wong, a beloved leader, teacher, and ally whose lifelong passion for justice strengthened the entire labor movement. Through his visionary leadership of the UCLA Labor Center, Kent educated and empowered a generation of organizers, including many AFSCME members. Together with Rev. James Lawson, his teachings on nonviolence and social justice stand as enduring pillars of our movement. Kent understood that our fight for economic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) today demanded that the Office of Management and Budget confirm that every federal employee furloughed during the shutdown will receive back pay guaranteed by law. Recent reports suggest the administration is considering withholding this pay. Doing so would be illegal and further compound the harm alre

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration is threatening to deny furloughed federal workers back pay during the shutdown in direct violation of federal law and the administration's own guidance: “This administration is again threatening to use federal workers as political pawns by robbing them of the wages they are owed by law. The billionaires running this administration need to be reminde

AFSCME, AFGE ask court to block potential Trump firings SAN FRANCISCO – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees...

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after anti-worker extremists in Congress refused to address...