Filed Date: Aug. 13, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case challenged the second Trump Administration’s Executive Order 14251, “Exclusions From Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs” (Executive Order), which purports to revoke the collective bargaining rights of the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) organizational unit in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the basis that their primary function constitutes national security work. On August 13, 2025, the National Association of Agriculture Employees (NAAE), a labor union that represents approximately 1,500 PPQ employees filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against President Trump, USDA, and the Office of Personnel Management. The case was assigned to District Judge Paul L. Friedman.
Represented by O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue LLP, a union-side law firm, NAAE alleged that the Executive Order’s removal of recognition and collective bargaining rights for PPQ employees who do not perform “national security” functions violated legal and constitutional protections for civil service employees. NAAE alleged that enforcement of the Executive Order would violate their First Amendment rights because it is retaliatory against union activity; their rights to Equal Protection; and would be an ultra vires action that exceeds the authority granted to President Trump by Congress in 5 U.S.C. § 7103(b). NAAE sought declaratory and injunctive relief.
The case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Madena Mustafa (9/29/2025)
National Weather Service Employees Organization v. Trump, District of District of Columbia (2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71101307/parties/national-association-of-agriculture-employees-v-trump/
Friedman, Paul L. (District of Columbia)
Bolek, Keith R. (District of Columbia)
Hirn, Richard J (District of Columbia)
Pullium, April H. (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71101307/national-association-of-agriculture-employees-v-trump/
Last updated Oct. 25, 2025, 11:39 p.m.
State / Territory: District of Columbia
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 13, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A labor union that represents employees of the Plant Protection and Quarantine organizational unit in U.S. Department of Agriculture
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
President Trump (District of Columbia), Federal
U.S. Department of Agriculture (District of Columbia), Federal
Office of Personnel Management (District of Columbia), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority: