According to the VA, the decision follows a March executive order signed by President Donald Trump that eliminated collective bargaining rights for many federal employees. A White House fact sheet about the order cited national security concerns, adding, "Certain Federal unions have declared war on President Trump's agenda."

The move runs against the Trump administration’s claims to federal jurists that agencies would wait until the conclusion of litigation challenging the president’s executive order seeking to outlaw collective bargaining at most federal agencies on national security grounds.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is terminating collective bargaining agreements with several key government unions representing its employees.