Trump’s Memo Overturns Biden Era Collective Bargaining Agreements at the Last Minute

February 1, 2025 TruthUSA

One ‘lame-duck’ agreement prevents the Department of Education from mandating that remote employees return to the office.

On January 31, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum that places restrictions on union contracts established during the Biden administration.

This memorandum, lacking the authority of an executive order, stipulates that any agreements finalized within the 30 days prior to Trump’s inauguration will be considered invalid.

In the memo, Trump argued that the collective bargaining agreements made with federal employees just before he took office perpetuated “wasteful and failing policies” from the Biden administration.

Furthermore, it sets out standards that specifically state no agency, employee, or executive department is permitted to enter into bargaining agreements concerning employment conditions during the 30 days prior to the transition to a new administration.

The president highlighted one particular policy—implemented three days before he took office—which barred the Department of Education from requiring remote staff to resume working in-person, citing it as an example of the hurdles he aims to address.

According to the memorandum, such restrictive contracts undermine the president’s authority and hamper effective management practices within the executive branch.

Trump noted, “Such last-minute, lame-duck [collective bargaining agreements], which purport to bind a new President to his predecessor’s policies, run counter to America’s system of democratic self-government.”

Throughout his tenure, Trump has challenged collective bargaining agreements with labor unions, including through a series of executive orders in 2018 aimed at reducing negotiation times and easing employee termination processes. These initiatives faced legal opposition from labor organizations.

Biden later rescinded these orders, temporarily halting the legal disputes.

Immediately after beginning his second term, the president signed a memo mandating that all federal departments and agencies end remote work agreements and require full-time, in-person work from all employees.

Additionally, under the president’s administration, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management sent out emails on January 28 to nearly all federal employees—excluding military, immigration, national security, and postal service employees—offering deferred resignation packages that enable workers to receive full pay and benefits until September 30, provided they submit resignation letters by February 6.

“Significant near-term changes are expected for the federal workforce,” officials communicated in the email. “Due to these changes, or for other reasons, you may wish to exit the federal government under terms that offer adequate time and economic security to plan for your future—and enjoy a vacation.”

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