Trump's Lame-Duck Executive Order: Limiting Last-Minute Bargaining Agreements

Former President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 2nd, 2025, designed to limit collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) made by outgoing administrations in the 30 days before a new president's inauguration. This action, described as an attempt to protect democratic governance, prohibits agencies from entering into new obligations, modifying existing ones, or extending CBAs during this transition period. The order highlights concerns about lame-duck administrations potentially binding their successors to policies they may not support. One example cited is a CBA reached by the Department of Education just three days before the new president's term began. While supporters argue this protects the incoming administration's mandate, critics raise concerns about the potential disruption to ongoing projects and negotiations. The order's long-term effects on administrative transitions remain to be seen.