NAGE Condemns OPM Directive to Terminate Collective Bargaining Agreements

The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) strongly condemns the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) directive instructing federal agencies to terminate or modify negotiated collective bargaining agreements under Executive Orders 14251 and 14343.

On February 12, OPM issued implementation guidance directing covered agencies and subdivisions to move forward with terminating applicable CBAs and provided a template notice to do so.

These actions strip frontline public servants of workplace stability and basic procedural protections. Executive Order 14251 extends far beyond traditional intelligence entities, sweeping across major departments and components throughout the federal government.

“Ending collective bargaining is not about national security, it is about silencing the workforce,” said Lee Blackmon, Federal Director of NAGE/SEIU. “When you strip away grievance rights, representation, and negotiated protections, you do not strengthen federal agencies, you undermine morale, readiness, and mission performance.”

The impact is immediate and significant. Executive Order 14251 directs agencies— once CBAs are terminated— to end participation in pending grievance proceedings, arbitration-related actions, and unfair labor practice cases involving affected employees. OPM’s own FAQs further instruct agencies that they may implement changes in working conditions for excluded employees—without advance notice or bargaining— and should not allow union representation in Weingarten meetings or formal discussions.

Collective bargaining agreements are not barriers to accountability. They establish clear, consistent rules and structured processes for resolving workplace disputes. Federal law requires negotiated grievance and arbitration procedures because Congress recognized that employee voice and collective bargaining protect the public interest and contribute to effective government operations.

Weakening these protections makes agencies less stable and less effective. Research consistently shows that collective bargaining and grievance procedures reduce turnover and support productivity. The Government Accountability Office has also emphasized the connection between employee engagement and agency performance, particularly in mission-critical environments.

NAGE will pursue every available legal and administrative avenue to defend the federal employees we represent and the essential work they perform. We call on agencies to respect existing court orders and refrain from actions that unlawfully cut off negotiated protections while litigation continues.