Michael Sainato at The Guardian reports the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents more than 8,000 Workers employed at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has filed a lawsuit against the agency and administrator Lee Zeldin, alleging the EPA illegally terminated the Union’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The lawsuit, filed by two AFGE Locals, claims the Agency failed to justify the contract’s termination and was motivated by a desire to repress political dissent, a violation of the Employees’ First Amendment Rights. “While the dedicated Civil Servants are working hard every day to advance the Agency’s mission to protect human health and the environment, the Agency has turned its back on them, unlawfully eliminating their Workplace Protections and stifling their Free Speech Rights,” the lawsuit said. The EPA terminated the CBA in August 2025, citing President Donald Trump’s Executive Order earlier that year that sought to eliminate CBAs for more than one million Federal Workers. The Union is asking the Court to restore the contract – which went into effect in June 2024 and was supposed to last through June 2028. It included a Scientific Integrity Provision aimed to protect Workers at the Agency from retaliation. AFGE Council 238 President Justin Chen said the Union’s Members work as Civil Servants because they believe in the Agency’s mission and in serving the public: “They believe in the kind of work that they do. When they’re gagged and have no rights, they’re unable to serve the American Public, they can’t do their jobs and they can’t serve the Agency’s mission.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: EPA union sues Trump administration to restore collective bargaining contract | US Environmental Protection Agency | The Guardian