Trump signs order to end collective bargaining for some federal workers: What to know

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Thursday evening to end collective bargaining with federal labor unions for some agencies.

Trump cited his authority to sign this order granted under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. 

The Civil Service Reform Act allows some federal employees "to organize, bargain collectively and participate through labor organizations of their choice in decisions affecting their working lives," according to the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority website.  

What does the order say? 

The need to end collective bargaining with federal unions in these agencies is because of their role in safeguarding national security, according to the order.

What they're saying:

"President Trump is taking action to ensure that agencies vital to national security can execute their missions without delay and protect the American people. The President needs a responsive and accountable civil service to protect our national security," according to a White House fact sheet.

The order also claimed that "certain federal unions have declared war on President Trump's agenda" and that Trump "refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests."

"President Trump supports constructive partnerships with unions who work with him; he will not tolerate mass obstruction that jeopardizes his ability to manage agencies with vital national security missions," the White House said.

Which federal agencies are impacted? 

Dig deeper:

Agencies with national security missions will be affected, including: 

• Department of State
• Defense
• Veterans Affairs
• Energy
• Health and Human Services
• Treasury
• Justice Department
• Commerce
• Parts of Homeland Security that are responsible for border security

Police and firefighters will continue to collectively bargain.

Legal action against the order is expected

What's next:

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers, said late Thursday that it is "preparing immediate legal action and will fight relentlessly to protect our rights, our members, and all working Americans from these unprecedented attacks."

What they're saying:

"President Trump’s latest executive order is a disgraceful and retaliatory attack on the rights of hundreds of thousands of patriotic American civil servants — nearly one-third of whom are veterans — simply because they are members of a union that stands up to his harmful policies," AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement, "It’s clear that this order is punishment for unions who are leading the fight against the administration’s illegal actions in court — and a blatant attempt to silence us." She also vowed, "We will fight this outrageous attack on our members with every fiber of our collective being."