1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my serious concern and strong objection to recent actions taken by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to terminate collective bargaining agreements affecting hundreds of thousands of Department of Defense civilian employees. According to recent reporting, this directive would eliminate union contracts covering approximately 300,000 federal workers and follows broader executive actions that have already targeted the collective bargaining rights of over one million federal employees. These actions represent a sweeping and unprecedented dismantling of long-standing labor protections in the federal workforce. This decision raises significant legal and constitutional concerns. Federal employee unions and legal experts have already indicated that these actions may violate First Amendment rights, as well as established federal labor laws governing collective bargaining. Additionally, there have been ongoing court challenges and prior judicial concerns regarding similar efforts to terminate union agreements, suggesting that these actions may be proceeding in direct conflict with legal constraints. Beyond the legal issues, this policy undermines the very workforce that supports our national defense. Many of these employees are veterans and highly skilled professionals whose ability to advocate for fair working conditions is essential to maintaining morale, retention, and operational effectiveness. I urge you to take immediate action to: • Investigate the legality of these contract terminations • Demand transparency and accountability from the Department of Defense • Support legislative or oversight measures to protect federal workers’ rights Congress has a constitutional responsibility to provide oversight of the executive branch and to ensure that federal agencies operate within the bounds of the law. Silence or inaction in the face of these developments would set a dangerous precedent. I respectfully ask that you publicly address this issue and take concrete steps to defend the rights of federal employees and uphold the rule of law.