A federal appeals court has granted former President Donald Trump a significant legal win by allowing his executive order—removing collective bargaining rights for employees at agencies such as the State Department and USAID—to take effect. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court injunction from Judge Paul Friedman, ruling that the president has broad constitutional authority, particularly in matters of national security, to exclude certain federal workers from union protections. The three-judge panel emphasized that courts have limited power to intervene when a president is executing core constitutional duties. This decision permits the executive order to proceed while ongoing legal challenges, including one led by the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), continue through the courts.

AFSA, which represents U.S. diplomats, criticized the ruling as a blow to decades of advocacy for federal employee rights. The order, issued in March, applies to multiple agencies Trump deemed essential to national security—including the State Department, Department of Justice, and National Science Foundation. AFSA argued the move was politically motivated and amounted to retaliation against unions that opposed Trump’s policies. The White House defended the executive order as necessary to maintain operational flexibility in national security matters. This case follows another appellate court victory for Trump in the Ninth Circuit, which upheld his authority to deploy the California National Guard in Los Angeles despite concerns of 10th Amendment overreach. Trump welcomed both decisions, claiming they underscore the importance of strong executive action in times of crisis and national risk.