The preliminary injunction bars the Department of Homeland Security from terminating its labor agreement with TSA officers.
A TSA checkpoint. (Photo: Shutterstock | David Tran Photo)
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has been granted a federal court injunction in its lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, preventing the termination of a collective bargaining agreement that covers approximately 47,000 transportation security officers.
The DHS announced on March 7 that the department was ending collective bargaining with Transportation Security Administration officers to “remove bureaucratic hurdles” and “strengthen workforce agility.”
The move drew the ire of the AFGE, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), who together filed a lawsuit against the DHS following the announcement.
On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted a preliminary injunction blocking DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from nullifying the labor contract.
AFGE stated in a news release emailed to AirlineGeeks that its coalition will “continue to vigorously pursue justice and protect the rights of federal workers across the government.”
“Today’s court decision is a crucial victory for federal workers and the rule of law,” said Everett Kelley, national president of AFGE, in the release. “The preliminary injunction underscores the unconstitutional nature of DHS’s attack on TSA officers’ first amendment rights. We remain committed to ensuring our members’ rights and dignity are protected, and we will not back down from defending our members’ rights against unlawful union busting.”
“A collective bargaining agreement provides essential protection for TSA officers so that they can do their job effectively,” added CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “Today’s court action reverses DHS Secretary Noem’s unlawful union busting that put the safety of CWA Passenger Service Agents and Flight Attendants at risk.”
The White House has aimed to cut costs by reducing TSA officer staffing in its 2026 discretionary budget request, known as the “skinny budget.” If approved by Congress, the budget would create around $247 million in savings.
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