Federal Employee Advocates Push for Workforce Rights After Midterm Elections

• •Democrats gained control of Congress, providing an opportunity for federal employee advocates.
• •AFGE calls for restoration of collective bargaining rights eliminated by Trump administration.
• •Proposed legislation includes a 3.8% pay raise for federal employees.

Following the 2026 midterm elections, federal employee advocates, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), are seizing the opportunity to challenge recent workforce overhauls initiated by the Trump administration. With Democrats gaining a majority in Congress, AFGE National President Everett Kelley called for the immediate restoration of collective bargaining rights for over a million federal employees, which were eliminated by executive orders last year. Kelley emphasized the need for a federal pay raise, proposing at least a 3.8% increase to align with planned raises for law enforcement and military personnel. The union aims to push legislation, such as the Protect America’s Workforce Act, through the new Congress, which is expected to address these issues in the upcoming sessions. The AFGE believes that restoring these rights is essential for the dignity and honor of civil servants serving the American public.