Holden Hopkins is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News & Commentary, Iowa’s rollback of anti-bias protections for trans individuals tees up a likely court challenge and Homeland Security Secretary moves to gut collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration agents.
On February 28, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill removing gender identity as a protected category under state anti-bias laws. This action comes amid broader federal attacks against trans individuals and their rights in the workplace and beyond. The law also contradicts the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which recognized gender identity discrimination under federal law.
Legal experts predict lawsuits citing violations of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and conflicts with federal anti-bias laws. Advocates argue that states cannot provide fewer protections than federal law requires. This decision follows Iowa’s previous restrictions on transgender rights, including limits on bathroom access and participation in school sports. Similar legal tensions are emerging in other states like Utah, indicating broader implications for transgender rights across the U.S.
The upcoming court battles will determine whether states can strip away protections once granted and whether federal law ultimately overrides state-level rollbacks.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken sweeping action to prevent the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from unionizing again, following her decision to revoke collective bargaining rights for transportation security officers. In a Feb. 27 memo, Noem directed TSA leadership to explore ways to ensure that future administrations cannot restore union rights without congressional intervention.
The move is part of a broader effort under the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce and weaken the influence of unions. Noem claims that union representation has hindered TSA’s operational flexibility and mission effectiveness. The directive also halts payroll deductions for union dues and blocks grievance reviews tied to past collective bargaining agreements. AFGE, which has represented TSA workers since 2011, has vowed to challenge the decision, setting the stage for a legal and political battle over workers’ rights within the federal agency.
Daily News & Commentary
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May 28
A proposal to make the NLRB purely adjudicatory; a work stoppage among court-appointed lawyers in Massachusetts; portable benefits laws gain ground
May 27
a judge extends a pause on the Trump Administration’s mass-layoffs, the Fifth Circuit refuses to enforce an NLRB order, and the Texas Supreme court extends workplace discrimination suits to co-workers.
May 26
Federal court blocks mass firings at Department of Education; EPA deploys new AI tool; Chiquita fires thousands of workers.
May 25
United Airlines flight attendants reach tentative agreement; Whole Foods workers secure union certification; One Big Beautiful Bill Act cuts $1.1 trillion
May 23
United Steelworkers union speaks out against proposed steel merger; Goodwin Procter turns over diversity data; Anthropic AI's fair use claim over authors' creative work
May 22
BLS releases statistics on foreign-born workers; courts vacate EEOC protections; SCOTUS considers takings case.