IFPTE Federal Sector Update on Trump/Musk and DOGE Attacks on Federal Workers - Week ending Mar. 21
IFPTE continues to work on the legislative, legal, grassroots and public relations fronts to counter the attacks on federal employees being promulgated by the Trump/Musk administration. Below is this week’s update on IFPTE International’s and Locals’ activities.
Legislative:
While IFPTE remains disappointed and dismayed with House and Senate Republicans and the ten Senate Democrats that allowed passage last week of full Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) continuing resolution (CR) that included no provisions blocking or even limiting the attacks on federal workers by President Trump and Elon Musk, we nonetheless are continuing our Hill work with federal lawmakers. Even though Congress is in recess, this week IFPTE legislative director, Faraz Khan, continued to be communication with key Hill staff regarding the Republican-led Congress’ intention to move a budget reconciliation bill in the coming weeks that could target federal workers’ pensions, health benefits, and federal employee Unions, as well as cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. IFPTE will continue to work aggressively against efforts by the Congress and Trump Administration to pay for their tax cuts to billionaires and corporations off the backs of federal workers and retirees.
IFPTE will hit the ground running next week on Capitol Hill when Congress returns to Washington, particularly against draconian legislation to target federal workers and their Unions, including Federal Union official time and the use of Federal Union office space (HR 1210), and grant the President wide authority to circumvent Union collective bargaining agreements through Executive Orders and Memos (HR 1295), among several other reckless bills. These bills are expected to be considered next week in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. IFPTE will oppose these bills and urge members of the Committee to vote to oppose it.
Grassroots: IFPTE sponsors and participates in “Let Us Work” mass call-in
IFPTE will be urging members to send a letter to oppose legislation being considered in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee intended to all but eliminate official time and kick Federal Unions out of their office space. The hearing is set for Tuesday, March 25th at 10am and can be viewed here.
Legal:
Note on RIFs of federal employees: We are asking all of our Federal Locals to submit either information requests or FOIA requests to their agency to ask for RIF plans. If your Local is already facing a RIF, please add additional requests specific to your Local and agency depending on the reasons given for the RIF and the employees affected. Please reach out to us with any questions and copy us on any responses.
Latest News on Lawsuits:
1) Federal Judge Alsup reinstated fired probationary workers last week and has ordered Trump and Musk to bring them all back to work – On Wednesday Federal Judge Alsup ordered the Trump Administration to bring illegally fired federal workers back to work and rather than placing them on administrative leave. In doing so, Judge Alsup wrote in his order that, “The Court has read news report that, in at least one agency, probationary employees are being placed on administrative leave en masse. This is not allowed by the preliminary injunction, for it would not restore the services the preliminary injunction intends to restore.” See The Hill article here.
IFPTE is a named plaintiff in the following lawsuits:
1) Protect Democracy-led lawsuit along with several other unions alleging that the Department of Education, the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Treasury improperly disclosed the sensitive records of millions of Americans to DOGE staff who lack appropriate security clearances and have not been properly vetted, and granted access to some of the government’s most sensitive and closely guarded data systems, in violation of the Privacy Act. The court extended the temporary restraining order on DOGE until March 24. The lawsuit is asking the court to impose injunctive and declaratory relief to ensure that improper disclosures to DOGE representatives stop immediately and that any data currently in DOGE’s possession be immediately deleted and destroyed.
2) NTEU-led lawsuit to protect probationary workers and other fed workers from wholesale firings and to save public services. The week before last, the judge denied the unions’ request for a temporary restraining order; however, unions will get their day in court in a few weeks to challenge the mass illegal firings of federal civil servants. Some good news on this front - a judge granted the requested emergency relief in a similar lawsuit in district court in California two weeks ago.
3) AALJ/IFPTE Judicial Council 1 and AFGE Privacy Act lawsuit to block DOGE from accessing personal and employment records through OPM.
4) Class action/collected individual appeals for fired probationary workers – See IFPTE’s guidance to Locals regarding avenues for terminated probationary workers.
Status of all other lawsuits as tracked by Just Security: IFPTE members can view the status of all lawsuits filed about federal workers, Privacy Act, and other matters at the Just Security “Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions.”