A federal judge in Washington has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from terminating the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) covering nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers. The ruling marks a significant victory for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and its Local 1121, which challenged DHS’s attempt to scrap the union deal.
Senior U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman granted the injunction after finding the union’s lawsuit likely to succeed on its claims, including retaliation in violation of the First Amendment. Judge Pechman highlighted strong evidence that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s February decision barring TSA officers from collective bargaining and rescinding the 2024 labor contract was retaliatory, rooted in opposition to the union’s resistance against prior federal employment policies.
“The determination by Secretary Noem not only attacks the AFGE by name but also mischaracterizes the collective bargaining agreement, demonstrating direct hostility,” Judge Pechman stated in her opinion. The decision tracked ongoing union litigation against the Trump administration’s alleged attacks on federal workers, further supporting the union’s claim of retaliation.
The AFGE, alongside other unions including the Communications Workers of America and the Association of Flight Attendants, filed suit in March against Noem, DHS, and TSA, asserting the rescission violated the First Amendment, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Fifth Amendment’s due process protections.
Judge Pechman’s injunction prohibits DHS and TSA from enforcing or implementing the rescission and mandates immediate notification to TSA officers that the 2024 CBA remains in effect. The court also noted the absence of justification from DHS explaining why collective bargaining would threaten transportation security, despite prior TSA positions affirming its safety benefits.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley praised the ruling, calling it “a crucial victory for federal workers and the rule of law.” He emphasized the union’s commitment to defending workers’ rights against unlawful union-busting efforts.
Norm Eisen, Executive Chair of Democracy Defenders Fund and plaintiffs’ counsel, described the decision as a “vital check on executive overreach” that “stops a reckless attack on working people in its tracks.”
The case, American Federation of Government Employees et al. v. Noem et al., case number 2:25-cv-00451, remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
