Liana Wang is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, the DC Circuit lifts a preliminary injunction on Trump’s collective bargaining ban for federal workers; HHS, DOL and Treasury pause a 2024 mental health parity regulation; and NJ Transit workers continue into the third day of a historic strike.
In a 2-1 decision issued on Friday, the D.C. Circuit overturned an injunction against Executive Order 14251 in NTEU v. Trump. The EO threatened to end collective bargaining rights for about 100,000 federal workers at over a dozen agencies on the grounds that they conducted national security work. Two circuit judges held that the union failed to show it would suffer irreparable harm, and the injunction interfered with the President’s autonomy on national security issues. In line with another Trump Administration directive in March, the majority also noted that the union should have posted a financial bond to cover the potential costs of a wrongly issued injunction.
Meanwhile, HHS, DOL, and Treasury have announced they will not enforce another Biden-era regulation as they consider whether to rescind it. The Biden Administration’s mental health parity rule required insurers and employers to make sure that their plans provided the same level of “meaningful benefits” for mental health conditions as for physical ones. The regulation was meant to ensure greater compliance with the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The ERISA Industry Committee, which represents several Fortune 500 companies, challenged the regulation in January 2025. The pause comes amid other attacks on research and funding for mental health and addiction services.
And, updating Justin’s story from Monday, New Jersey Transit workers and members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen officially went on strike for the first time in 40 years starting Friday. The locomotive engineers are asking for salary raises, arguing that they make 20% less compared to engineers at other regional rail systems. Hours of contract talks Saturday did not produce an agreement. As the strike continues into its third day today, NJ Transit and the union are returning to meet with a mediator in Newark.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching
June 26
A district judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking agencies from implementing Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers; workers organize for the reinstatement of two doctors who were put on administrative leave after union activity; and Lamont vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers.
June 25
Some circuits show less deference to NLRB; 3d Cir. affirms return to broader concerted activity definition; changes to federal workforce excluded from One Big Beautiful Bill.
June 24
In today’s news and commentary, the DOL proposes new wage and hour rules, Ford warns of EV battery manufacturing trouble, and California reaches an agreement to delay an in-person work mandate for state employees. The Trump Administration’s Department of Labor has advanced a series of proposals to update federal wage and hour rules. First, the […]