Secretary Noem attempts to strip TSA employees of union rights and bargaining agreement

The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security convened on April 2, 2025, to discuss critical efforts to secure and improve the U.S. travel system, particularly in preparation for significant international events. A key focus of the meeting was the recent memo issued by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, which proposed stripping Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees of their union rights and rescinding their existing collective bargaining agreement.

TSA employees play a vital role in ensuring the safety of millions of passengers daily. However, the agency has faced challenges with low morale and high turnover rates. In 2022, President Biden signed an omnibus spending bill that provided pay raises and expanded collective bargaining rights for TSA workers, leading to a significant reduction in attrition rates. Critics of Noem's memo argue that reversing these advancements would be detrimental to the TSA's security mission and could lead to further declines in workforce morale.

During the meeting, lawmakers expressed strong opposition to the proposed changes, labeling them as "dumb, cruel, and illegal." They emphasized that the Secretary cannot unilaterally rescind a legally binding contract. In response to these developments, a bill titled the "Rights for the TSA Workforce Act" was reintroduced, aiming to secure full collective bargaining rights and fair pay for TSA employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code.

The discussions highlighted the broader implications of these actions on the U.S. travel and tourism industry, with concerns that the current administration's policies could jeopardize the sector's recovery and growth. Lawmakers called for bipartisan support to counteract what they described as harmful policies that could put American interests at risk.

As the committee continues to examine these issues, the future of TSA employee rights and the overall effectiveness of the U.S. travel system remain critical topics for lawmakers and stakeholders alike.