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Dear AFGE Activist,

If there's one thing I know about AFGE members, it's that we don't give up! Our great union is filled with unionists who are fighters, dreamers and activists. When the chips are down, we get creative on how to best defend our rights on the job and go after what we deserve from our workplaces.

Today marks one year of the second Trump presidency and in many ways it has ushered in one of the toughest years for federal workers and their unions. The brazen attacks against workers and your union, AFGE, were unprecedented. Yet, one year later we are still here, with unshakeable resolve and relentless determination to keep up the fight for federal and D.C. government workers.

It's no doubt that this administration came out swinging. They aimed to demoralize, antagonize and terrorize workers under their purview as a way to bully us into abandoning our dedication to public service and commitment to our union. They thought they had us figured out, but they were wrong!

We’ve stood firm in our defense of the federal workforce and were ready when the administration started their attacks. We had a plan from the very beginning. A year ago, as President Trump was taking the oath of office, AFGE joined a coalition in suing the Administration over the creation of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

Ever since we have stayed in the courts, launching challenge after challenge to this administration’s illegal attacks on the dedicated public servants that show up every day for the American people. We filed 17 lawsuits and in many cases, we have won court injunctions intended to prevent the administration from moving forward with its plans – at least temporarily – as our lawsuits work their way through the legal system.

Through coalition building, worker organizing, legal strategy, and legislative and community outreach, we have shown that AFGE and our members aren’t going anywhere. The sum of our efforts has secured important wins like:

  • Bipartisan approval of the Protect America’s Workforce Act in the House of Representatives
  • Pressuring the Department of Veterans Affairs to abandon plans to lay off more than 80,000 workers
  • Protecting collective bargaining rights for workers at agencies like the U.S. Agency for Global Media and TSA.

And the wins don't stop there. Click here to check out our latest article outlining our victories in 2025.

AFGE — 2026 is our comeback year. We're going to continue this fight and win back what this administration has stolen from workers. Our solidarity and commitment to a strong, fighting union is what is needed now, more than ever. Here's our roadmap for the year ahead:

  • Focus on retaining our membership and growing from the ground up
  • Secure pro-AFGE majorities in the House and Senate
  • Restore collective bargaining rights throughout the federal sector
  • Reinforce our operations at the local, council, district and national levels
  • Involve AFGE leaders throughout the federation in our comeback plans

We've got our work cut out for us but I know we can succeed when we work together. Now is the time to stay active in your union, make sure you’re signed up for AFGE E-Dues, and talk with your coworkers to ensure they are union members too.

When we fight, WE WIN!

In Solidarity,

Everett Kelley
AFGE National President

Don’t Delay! It’s Time to Make the Switch to E-Dues

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