Worker Organizing and Empowerment

This executive order establishes a White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, chaired by the Vice President and comprising 23+ cabinet and agency officials, to identify and recommend federal policies that promote union organizing and collective bargaining. It revokes two Trump-era workforce councils and directs the new task force to submit recommendations within 180 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 22829

Impact dates

Oct 23, 2021
Task Force submits recommendations to President for actions to promote worker organizing and collective bargaining and increase union density
Apr 26, 2021
OMB and agency heads to promptly consider rescinding implementing rules and abolishing related positions/entities

Key directives

Establish Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment chaired by Vice President with Labor Secretary as Vice Chair
Task Force to identify executive branch policies, practices, and programs to promote worker organizing and collective bargaining
Task Force to identify statutory, regulatory, or other changes needed to support worker organizing
Task Force functions are advisory only; purpose is to make recommendations
Task Force to invite NLRB, FLRA, National Mediation Board, and other relevant agencies to consult
Task Force to gather information from labor organizations, worker advocates, and experts
Task Force to submit recommendations within 180 days of order date
Task Force and members to work to implement approved recommendations
Revoke EO 13845 and EO 13931
OMB and agency heads to promptly consider rescinding orders, rules, regulations, guidelines, or policies implementing revoked EOs
Abolish personnel positions, committees, task forces, or entities established under revoked EOs

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of EO 13845 and EO 13931
Establishment of Task Force within Executive Office of the President
OMB and agency heads directed to promptly consider rescinding implementing rules/guidelines and abolishing related positions/entities

Near term (90d)

Task Force gathering information from labor organizations, worker advocates, and experts
Potential early individual recommendations at Chair's discretion
Agency identification of policies/practices/programs to promote worker organizing

Long term

Task Force submission of comprehensive recommendations to President
Potential implementation of approved recommendations across federal programs including procurement, grants, tax administration, and labor law enforcement

Risks & tensions

Advisory-only nature of Task Force limits direct authority; actual impact depends on presidential approval and subsequent agency action
Vague 'promptly consider' language for rescission of prior EO implementations leaves timing uncertain
Scope covers broad range of federal levers (procurement, grants, tax, trade, labor enforcement) but recommendations may face legal constraints under NLRA preemption and other statutes
Political tension likely in states with 'hostile labor laws' explicitly targeted by the order
Potential conflict with independent agencies (NLRB, FLRA) whose consultation is invited but not mandated