Story perspectives

Trump Administration Ends IRS Union Bargaining Agreements Amid Controversy

2/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Treasury Department terminated collective bargaining agreements with the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Fiscal Service after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order.
The IRS Chief Human Capital Officer Alex Kweskin said the move enhances collaboration.
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) argues the terminations violate federal labor laws and has filed grievances.
Recent court rulings have allowed the Trump administration to proceed despite unions' challenges.

History

Historical Context

In 2018, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that reshaped federal labor relations, allowing the termination of collective bargaining agreements, which affected thousands of federal employees, including those at the IRS. This order followed a history of labor rights struggles, including the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, which restricted union activities, and the 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME, which limited union funding.

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Story summary

The Treasury Department terminated collective bargaining agreements with the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Fiscal Service after U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order.
The IRS Chief Human Capital Officer Alex Kweskin said the move enhances collaboration.
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) argues the terminations violate federal labor laws and has filed grievances.
Recent court rulings have allowed the Trump administration to proceed despite unions' challenges.

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