Huge Win: Judge Orders TSA to Honor Union Contract

A federal judge has ordered the Transportation Security Administration to honor its collective bargaining agreement with AFGE — marking the second time a court has ruled against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s attempts to kill the TSA union contract.

The court ordered TSA to “immediately notify bargaining unit TSOs that the September Noem Determination will not take effect on January 18, 2026, the 2024 CBA remains applicable and binding,” and the currently negotiated terms remain in force.

This is the second round of this fight. In June 2025, the judge issued a preliminary injunction against Noem’s first attempt to dissolve the CBA, writing that her action “appears to have been undertaken to punish AFGE and its members because AFGE has chosen to push back against the Trump Administration’s attacks to federal employment in the courts.”

Undeterred, Noem tried again in December 2025 with a new determination to terminate the contract covering 47,000 TSA officers. The judge saw right through it.

The case is still scheduled for trial in September 2026.

Why It Matters for Local 2328

This isn’t just a TSA story. It’s a test case for every federal union contract — including ours at the VA. When the administration tries to unilaterally terminate a legally negotiated collective bargaining agreement and a federal judge says “no” — twice — that’s precedent that protects all of us.

Every contract right you have at the Hampton VA exists because someone fought for it and someone defended it. AFGE’s legal team is doing exactly that, and they’re winning.

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