A major federal employee union is accusing the Trump administration of creating new obstacles for government workers seeking workplace accommodations, deepening an already tense relationship between Washington and the federal workforce.
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has filed a formal complaint over recent policy changes at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to the union, new rules surrounding telework and remote work approvals make it more difficult for employees—particularly those with disabilities—to obtain reasonable accommodations.
Federal law requires agencies to provide accommodations that allow qualified employees to perform their jobs. These can include flexible schedules, modified duties, assistive technology, or the ability to work remotely when appropriate.
The union says HHS changed its internal approval process last year, requiring employees with disabilities to obtain authorization from higher-level officials than was previously necessary when requesting telework or reassignment. NTEU claims this added layer slows approvals and discourages workers from applying at all.
In a letter sent by NTEU bargaining unit employees to HHS, the union warned the policy would “have adverse effects” on workers and could effectively eliminate telework as a viable accommodation option. The letter argues the change removes telework from the required interactive process between employees and management.
“This policy is likely to increase delays and improperly discourage employees from seeking telework as a reasonable accommodation,” the union wrote. It further alleged the changes conflict with existing labor agreements and federal disability protections.
The complaint comes amid broader changes to the federal workforce under President Donald Trump. Since returning to office, Trump has moved to scale back remote work, imposed hiring freezes, supported workforce reductions, and encouraged employees to report fraud, waste, and abuse within federal agencies. Several of these initiatives are currently being challenged in court.
After HHS reportedly failed to respond to the grievance, the union announced it will pursue formal arbitration. That process would place the dispute before a labor board, which will determine whether the agency violated its obligation to negotiate policy changes with union representatives.
Critics of the administration say the complaint highlights what they view as unnecessary hardship for federal workers. Supporters of Trump argue the changes reflect a push for accountability, efficiency, and a return to normal workplace standards—similar to those faced by millions of private-sector employees.