AFGE Membership Highest in History as Government Workers Join in Droves to Stand Up for Public Service

February 10, 2025

President Trump’s illegal directives keep coming, but federal workers who take the oath to uphold the Constitution are not taking it lying down. Their courage and commitment to public service have led to skyrocketing membership at AFGE. As of this writing, the number of dues-paying members went up rapidly to stand at 321,000, the highest in the union’s history. 

Federal workers are joining to have a voice at work and fight efforts to undermine the federal government and democracy.  

Here’s a summary of what we did together this week and how you can join us. 

Feb. 7: In response to AFGE and allies’ lawsuit, a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s effort to put more than 2,000 employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on administrative leave and to recall overseas USAID employees to the U.S.  

Feb. 6: In a victory for government employees, a federal judge suspended the Trump administration’s implementation of its deferred resignation program in response to AFGE and allies’ lawsuit seeking suspension of this illegal program. The judge has set a Monday hearing to hear further arguments.  

Feb. 6: A federal judge partially blocked Elon Musk’s access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems in response to a lawsuit filed by AFGE and allies. Two DOGE-connected employees are granted “read only” access to the systems. No one else will get access, including Musk himself. 

Feb. 5: AFGE and allies filed a lawsuit challenging DOGE’s authority to access highly sensitive information systems at the Department of Labor and restructure multiple federal agencies unilaterally. 

Feb. 3: AFGE vowed to challenge any efforts to defy signed contracts after the Trump administration told agencies to ignore collective bargaining agreements. AFGE maintains that union contracts are enforceable by law, and the president does not have the authority to make unilateral changes to the agreements.  

For more details about our efforts protecting the public service and workers’ rights, click here. 

Want to join in the fight? 

Here are 2 easy steps you can take.