Case: United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

1:25-cv-00674 | U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island

Filed Date: Dec. 17, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

In 1978, Congress enacted the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, U.S.C. § 7101 et seq. (“Chapter 71”), establishing a comprehensive labor-management relations framework for the federal workforce. Chapter 71 provides a narrow exception which suspends its operation if a federal agency has a primary function of national security and Chapter 71 cannot be applied “in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.” President Trump invoked this exception …

President Trump invoked this exception on March 27, 2025, through Executive Order 14251 to exclude thousands of federal employees from the protections of federal labor law, including the Plaintiffs employed at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”). Initially, on April 11, 2025, VA Secretary Douglas Collins, via authority delegated to him in the Executive Order, suspended the application of the Exclusion Order with respect to the Plaintiffs, restoring their labor rights. Months later without warning or explanation, Secretary Collins rescinded his suspension decision on November 7, 2025, eliminating Chapter 71 labor rights rights for all unions covered by the April 11 order, including the Plaintiffs (“Rescission Order”).

On December 17, 2025, several labor organizations representing affected VA employees, such as Registered Nurses, housekeepers, maintenance workers, and cemetery workers, filed suit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary Collins, and President Trump. They brought suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island challenging the Rescission Order. The case was assigned to Judge Melissa R. DuBose.

In their complaint, the Plaintiffs alleged that Executive Order 14251 was ultra vires because it “exceed[ed] the limited authority granted by Congress in Section 7103(b) to exclude agencies from the coverage of Chapter 71.” The Order also allegedly “unlawfully abrogated Plaintiffs’ collective bargaining agreements without notice or an opportunity to be heard, in violation of the Fifth Amendment.” The Plaintiffs also alleged that the Rescission order violated the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) because it was arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to Chapter 71. The plaintiffs sought injunctive and declaratory relief to restore their statutory labor rights and collective bargaining agreements.

On January 12, 2026, the Plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction to enjoin the enforcement of the Rescission Order and restore their labor rights.

The case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Madena Mustafa (2/3/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72046600/parties/united-nurses-association-of-californiaunion-of-healthcare-professionals/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Carter, Abigail V. (Rhode Island)

Ravindran, Ramya (Rhode Island)

Rowell, J. Alexander (Rhode Island)

Shadgett, Lane Martin (Rhode Island)

Wiens, Elizabeth A. (Rhode Island)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Carter, Abigail V. (Rhode Island)

Ravindran, Ramya (Rhode Island)

Rowell, J. Alexander (Rhode Island)

Shadgett, Lane Martin (Rhode Island)

Wiens, Elizabeth A. (Rhode Island)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:25-cv-00674	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals et al. v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs et al.	Dec. 17, 2025	Dec. 17, 2025 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72046600/united-nurses-association-of-californiaunion-of-healthcare-professionals/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:21 a.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Dec. 17, 2025	COMPLAINT ( filing fee paid $ 405.00, receipt number ARIDC-2222032 ), filed by Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons - US AG, # 3 Summons - USAO - RI, # 4 Summons - VA)(Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 12/17/2025) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons - US AG View on PACER 3 Summons - USAO - RI View on PACER 4 Summons - VA View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	Dec. 17, 2025	First MOTION for Ramya Ravindran to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2222088 ) filed by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO. (Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 12/17/2025)	RECAP
3	Dec. 17, 2025	First MOTION for Lane Shadgett to Appear Pro Hac Vice Lane Shadgett ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2222089 ) filed by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO. (Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 12/17/2025)	RECAP
4	Dec. 17, 2025	First MOTION for J. Alexander Rowell to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2222092 ) filed by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO. (Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 12/17/2025)	RECAP
5	Dec. 17, 2025	First MOTION for Abigail V. Carter to Appear Pro Hac Vice ( filing fee paid $ 100.00, receipt number ARIDC-2222094 ) filed by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO. (Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 12/17/2025)	RECAP
6	Dec. 17, 2025	Summons Request filed by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO. (Attachments: # 1 Summons - D. Trump) (Wiens, Elizabeth) Clerk's Office corrected the name for attachment 1 on 12/17/2025 as that is the summons request for D. Trump, and the main document was a summons request for D. Collins. (Entered: 12/17/2025)	RECAP
7	Dec. 17, 2025	CASE OPENING NOTICE ISSUED. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana) (Entered: 12/17/2025)	RECAP
8	Dec. 17, 2025	Summons Issued as to Douglas A. Collins, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Rhode Island. (Attachments: # 1 Summons Issued as to D. Trump, # 2 Summons Issued as to D. Collins, # 3 Summons Issued as to US AG Bondi, # 4 Summons Issued as to USAO - RI) (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana) (Entered: 12/17/2025)	RECAP
	Dec. 17, 2025	Case Conditionally Assigned
	Dec. 17, 2025	Order on Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice
	Dec. 17, 2025	CASE CONDITIONALLY ASSIGNED to District Judge Melissa R. DuBose and Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan based upon the indication on the cover sheet that a related case previously was assigned to the presiding judge. Related Case Number 1:25-cv-583-MRD-PAS. The assignment is subject to the presiding judge's determination that the cases, in fact, are related. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)
	Dec. 17, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting 2 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Ramya Ravindran. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 12/17/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)
	Dec. 17, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting 3 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Lane Shadgett. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 12/17/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)
	Dec. 17, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of J. Alexander Rowell. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 12/17/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)
	Dec. 17, 2025	TEXT ORDER granting 5 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Abigail V. Carter. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 12/17/2025. (Gonzalez Gomez, Viviana)
	Dec. 23, 2025	CASE PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED Since District Judge Melissa R. DuBose has determined that this case is in fact related to CA 1:25-cv-583-MRD-PAS this case is permanently assigned to District Judge Melissa R. DuBose for all further proceedings. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)
	Dec. 23, 2025	Case Permanently Assigned
9	Dec. 30, 2025	AFFIDAVIT of Service, filed by Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415 for Complaint and Pro Hac Vice Motions All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Receipts)(Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 12/30/2025)	RECAP
10	Jan. 12, 2026	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and 5 U.S.C. 705 Stay filed by All Plaintiffs. Responses due by 1/26/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Supporting Memorandum, # 2 Affidavit Guzynski, # 3 Affidavit J. Suster, # 4 Affidavit Keegan, # 5 Affidavit Lucas, # 6 Affidavit Morrow, # 7 Affidavit Pilchard, # 8 Affidavit Vasquez Luna)(Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 01/12/2026)	RECAP
11	Jan. 16, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Andrea Lena Hyatt on behalf of All Defendants (Hyatt, Andrea) (Entered: 01/16/2026)	RECAP
12	Jan. 20, 2026	Joint MOTION for an Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 10 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and 5 U.S.C. 705 Stay filed by All Defendants. Responses due by 2/3/2026. (Hyatt, Andrea) (Entered: 01/20/2026)	RECAP
	Jan. 29, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 12 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. Reset Deadlines re 10 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and 5 U.S.C. 705 Stay: Responses due by 2/13/2026; Replies due by 2/27/2026. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 1/29/2026. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)
	Jan. 29, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply
13	Feb. 13, 2026	RESPONSE In Opposition to 10 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction and 5 U.S.C. 705 Stay filed by All Defendants. Replies due by 2/20/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit)(Hyatt, Andrea) (Entered: 02/13/2026)	RECAP
14	Feb. 18, 2026	Assented MOTION for an Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,, filed by All Defendants. Responses due by 3/4/2026. (Hyatt, Andrea) (Entered: 02/18/2026)	RECAP
15	Feb. 27, 2026	REPLY to Response re 13 Response to Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Objection to Defendants' Motion to Stay filed by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Nicole Pilchard, # 2 Affidavit of Charlie Keegan)(Wiens, Elizabeth) (Entered: 02/27/2026)	RECAP
	Feb. 27, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer
	Feb. 27, 2026	TEXT ORDER granting 14 Motion for Extension of Time to Answer. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 2/27/2026. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra)
16	March 27, 2026	MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: The Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction (ECF No. 10 ) is GRANTED. The November 11, 2025 Rescission Order is preliminarily set aside for the Plaintiffs. The Defendants shall immediately reinstate the Plaintiffs' CBAs and shall be governed by the terms of each of these CBAs. The Defendants shall also immediately notify the relevant bargaining units of this Order, shall continue or reinstate processing of pending grievances and arbitrations submitted pursuant to the CBAs, and shall accept new grievances filed pursuant to the CBAs. So Ordered by District Judge Melissa R. DuBose on 3/27/2026. (Urizandi, Nissheneyra) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
	March 27, 2026	Public Docket Note
	March 27, 2026	DOCKET NOTE: Received $1000.00 Bond Payment from Elizabeth A. Wiens. (Hill, Cherelle)
17	April 6, 2026	MOTION for an Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint,, filed by All Defendants. Responses due by 4/20/2026. (Hyatt, Andrea) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	RECAP
	April 14, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Rhode Island

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Labor Rights

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 17, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Labor Unions: Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5000, AFT, AFL-CIO, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1029, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1998, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1322, Laborers' International Union of North America Local 572, United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 415

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Douglas Collins

President Donald Trump

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Constitutional Clause(s):

Takings

Other Dockets:

District of Rhode Island 1:25-cv-00674

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Civil Service

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of United Nurses Association of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals v. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47519/ (last updated 2/3/2026).