AFSA NEWS 64 MARCH-APRIL 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL D.C. Rally for Rights At a January 14, 2026, rally near the Capitol, hundreds of federal workers and union allies gathered to urge the Senate to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA), legislation that would restore collective bargaining rights stripped from 1.5 million federal employees by a March 2025 executive order. The rally followed a successful, national mobilization led by AFL-CIO that pushed the Republican-controlled House to pass PAWA 231195 in December 2025, despite opposition from the Trump administration. With the focus now on the Senate, organizers encouraged the public to call their senators and press for action. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) both spoke at the rally. Van Hollen said: “By protecting the federal workforce, we also protect the American people and the good work that you do on behalf of the American people.” AFSA participated as part of a broad coalition of labor organizations, with the position that collective bargaining supports a professional, nonpartisan Foreign Service and strengthens U.S. diplomatic readiness. The executive order that canceled collective bargaining agreements governmentwide also voided AFSA’s agreements with the State Department and USAID, leaving most Foreign Service professionals without key workplace protections. AFSA/MARK PARKHOMENKO AFSA staff and members gather in support of federal workers’ collective bargaining rights. At the rally, Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, warned “We are in a dangerous place if the president thinks it is at his discretion to decide what rights Americans have.” The right to bargain collectively is grounded in the First Amendment, Erwin argued. Actions taken by Trump and his former Office of Management and Budget director, Russell Vought, set a precedent that extends far beyond federal workers. PAWA would reinstate those protections, restore canceled contracts, and reestablish due process safeguards. The bill now needs 60 votes in the Senate; supporters currently count 49 and are targeting persuadable Republicans. As Erwin told the crowd, the fight is about more than labor law. “This is a constitutional issue,” he said. “Senators, you have to protect the American people.” n AFSA Welcomes New Intern Melia Hathorne Klingler joins AFSA this semester as the spring 2026 scholarships and membership intern supporting the membership team. She is a senior at American University, where she studies international relations with a focus on peace, global security, and conflict resolution. Melia has previously worked as an intern for the Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington and the State Department Pakistan Office. She hopes to join the Foreign Service. Melia is training for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler this spring, and in her free time you can probably find her running, reading, or baking. Welcome, Melia! n Melia Hathorne Klingler AFSA is closely watching the Protect America’s Workforce Act (HR 2550), which would reverse a March 2025 executive order that stripped certain groups of federal workers, including Foreign Service members at the State Department and USAID of their collective bargaining rights. In November, 218 House lawmakers signed a discharge petition bill, forcing a floor vote on the legislation. The discharge petition was called up in December, and bipartisan votes took place without leadership support. Both procedural votes passed, and HR 2550 passed by a vote of 231-195. Twenty Republicans voted for the bill. While the Senate is not expected to pass the bill as a stand-alone measure, it could come up in future congressional negotiations, especially those related to government funding. n Vote to Protect Unions
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