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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September 17
A union argues the NLRB's quorum rule is unconstitutional; the California Building Trades back a state housing law; and Missouri proposes raising the bar for citizen ballot initiatives
September 16
In today’s news and commentary, the NLRB sues New York, a flight attendant sues United, and the Third Circuit considers the employment status of Uber drivers The NLRB sued New York to block a new law that would grant the state authority over private-sector labor disputes. As reported on recently by Finlay, the law, which […]
September 15
Unemployment claims rise; a federal court hands victory to government employees union; and employers fire workers over social media posts.
September 14
Workers at Boeing reject the company’s third contract proposal; NLRB Acting General Counsel William Cohen plans to sue New York over the state’s trigger bill; Air Canada flight attendants reject a tentative contract.
September 12
Zohran Mamdani calls on FIFA to end dynamic pricing for the World Cup; the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement opens a probe into Scale AI’s labor practices; and union members organize immigration defense trainings.
September 11
California rideshare deal advances; Boeing reaches tentative agreement with union; FTC scrutinizes healthcare noncompetes.