(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The American Federation of Government Employees National Veterans Affairs Council (AFGE/NVAC), the largest Union representing more than 320,000 Employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs, is celebrating Judge Melissa DuBose’s decision granting the Union’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

Judge DuBose ordered the reinstatement of the Master Collective Bargaining Agreement between the AFGE/NVAC and the VA, as well as all local and mid-term agreements, finding that Secretary Doug Collins and the VA likely violated the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act. 

On August 6th, 2025, Secretary Collins terminated the AFGE/NVAC Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Secretary Collins, however, did not terminate all VA Collective Bargaining Agreements, but only those with Unions that had opposed the Trump Administration’s attacks on VA Workers and the Veterans they serve.

Shortly thereafter, AFGE/NVAC filed a lawsuit in Providence, Rhode Island alleging Secretary Collins’ decision to terminate the agreement was unlawfully based on AFGE and NVAC’s protected First Amendment activity, and that the termination further violated the Administrative Procedure Act and requested the Court issue a preliminary injunction reinstating the agreement while the case is litigated. 

Judge DuBose’s decision rightly found that AFGE/NVAC is likely to succeed on these claims and that the actions of Secretary Collins and the VA are causing irreparable harm to AFGE/NVAC and the Employees it represents.

In her decision, Judge DuBose found that “the termination of the Master CBA on August 6th seems substantially motivated by the Plaintiffs’ history and frequency of vocally opposing changes to labor policies."

AFGE National President Everett Kelley issued the following statement: "Secretary Collins singled out AFGE and our Members for retaliation because we refused to stay silent about cuts and changes at the VA that would harm Veterans. His decision to exempt other Unions from the President's Executive Order and then terminate AFGE/NVAC's Collective Bargaining Agreement made the retaliation impossible to deny. When the VA signed its contract with AFGE/NVAC, it made a binding commitment to provide AFGE/NVAC-represented Nurses, Doctors and other VA Staff with the rights and support they need to care for our Veterans. That contract cannot be unilaterally torn up. The VA's actions didn't just violate the law. Those same actions put Veterans' care at risk by undermining the very people dedicated to serving them. Today's ruling holds this Administration accountable and makes clear: No one can retaliate against Workers for standing up for their rights. We are pleased the court has restored the largest Union contract of VA employees and protected both the Federal Workforce and the Veterans who depend on them."

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: AFGE | Court Orders Restoration of AFGE Veterans Affairs Collective Bargaining Agreement