On March 7, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to terminate its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The action removes the collective bargaining rights of more than 45,000 transportation security officers who are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). DHS cited the Trump administration’s “vision of maximizing government productivity and efficiency” as justification for ending the agreement. However, collective bargaining agreements are enforceable by law. Violations of the terms and conditions of existing agreements are enforceable, and AFGE has indicated they are reviewing their legal options.  

The Transportation Security Administration was created in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks and is charged with protecting U.S. transportation systems. TSA’s workers are considered federal employees, but were originally excluded from federal regulations that grant workers collective bargaining rights. In 2011, TSA allowed for transportation security officers to elect a union and collectively bargain over a limited set of issues. The Biden administration significantly expanded the scope of bargaining for these workers. In May 2024, TSA and AFGE reached a seven-year collective bargaining agreement, which included enhanced shift trading options, increased uniform allowances, and the addition of weather and safety leave.   

DHS termination of the TSA collective bargaining agreement is just another example of the Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce and dismantling of union protections for federal workers.  

Impact: Since the expansion of transportation security officer’s collective bargaining rights under the Biden administration, TSA has seen attrition drop nearly in half.  The termination of the CBA will likely reverse the progress of retaining qualified transportation security officers, which could put U.S. transportation systems’ safety at risk.