The House of Representatives voted to overturn an executive order from President Donald Trump that limited collective bargaining rights for federal workers—the first successful override of a Trump directive during this session of Congress.
The effort was led by Rep. Jared Golden, Democrat of Maine, who gathered the necessary support to force a vote through a discharge petition. The bill passed on Thursday, signaling growing discontent among rank-and-file members dissatisfied with party leadership on major policy issues.
This legislative maneuver—using a discharge petition—allows lawmakers to bypass House leadership and bring a bill directly to the floor for a vote, provided it receives backing from a majority of House members.
A second discharge petition, put forward by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Republican of Florida, seeks to force a vote on legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks. That petition currently has 58 signatures, including 15 from Republicans.
Some lawmakers view these petitions as a response to perceived inaction by party leaders. “I think it’s a sign that members are sensing that there’s been less than the desired level of leadership when it comes to important policy issues facing the country and that maybe members need to start filling the vacuum,” Rep. Kevin Kiley, Republican of California, said during a reported interview with Semafor.
However, not all House members agree with this approach. “Members see leverage and they take it,” Rep. Adrian Smith, Republican of Nebraska, told Semafor. “I don’t see any productivity in that.”
These moves come amid increasing pressure on Congress to address ethics concerns and restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees.
