**Unions Challenge Defense Department’s Cancellation of Collective Bargaining Agreements**
Two unions have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense in response to the cancellation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) for most of the department’s civilian workforce. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) argue that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s April 9 memo terminating nearly all CBAs violated the Administrative Procedure Act by reversing long-standing policy without a reasoned explanation.
The lawsuit claims the Pentagon’s move was arbitrary and capricious and inconsistent with executive order 14251, which authorized agencies with national security missions to suspend collective bargaining last year. While several agencies quickly moved to cancel union contracts, the Defense Department had continued honoring CBAs for approximately a year before abruptly changing course. According to the complaint, the department gave little to no advance notice and created confusion by allowing managers to inform workers of the cancellations inconsistently—sometimes by phone, email, or letter, while others received no notification at all.
In addition to undermining union representation, the lawsuit highlights that the Pentagon has stopped accepting grievances under the CBAs, leaving employees without key protections. The unions contend that the sudden policy shift has already caused real harm, including cases where workers faced disciplinary actions or termination with no recourse.
The lawsuit also reflects broader tensions between labor rights and national security policy, as Congress continues to debate the scope and legality of the executive order. Lawmakers have already pressed Defense leaders to justify the decision, and efforts are ongoing to restrict funding for its implementation.
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**Original Article:**
“Unions Sue Defense Department Over Cancellation of Collective Bargaining Agreements.” *Federal News Network*, 2026, federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-labor-union-lawsuit-cba-cancellation/.
