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Fighting for FNS Employees

NTEU is working on all fronts to protect your rights and fight back as FNS rolls out its reorganization plan.  We have been in close touch with other unions and outside groups that have a stake in this battle.
 
While the courts are just one front in this fight, it is an important front.  And one where we intend to be strategic and aggressive.  
 
In the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, a long-running litigation involving unions, non-profits, and States has yielded protections for employees at various times.  That litigation will be expanded soon to attack the entire USDA reorganization plan.  NTEU will support that expanded lawsuit by providing declarations from NTEU members at FNS that will support the plaintiffs' forthcoming request for broad preliminary relief against the USDA reorganization plan.  This relief, if it is ordered, would benefit NTEU members, even without NTEU being a party to that lawsuit.  
 
This initial effort, which will take place in the weeks ahead, will not foreclose any of NTEU's other litigation options.  We will see what it yields, while we continue to fight for you on the Hill and in the media.  We will keep you posted as things develop.

June 4, 2026

FNS to Close Offices

On April 30, FNS sent an email to all employees announcing both a name change to Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) and a sweeping restructuring. For NTEU bargaining unit employees, this is significant with the intended closures of certain offices.  
 
At the employee meeting, to which NTEU was not invited, FNS announced that they had notified the union of the change.This is incorrect. While USDA had previously announced a possible reorganization, FNS had not provided any further information to NTEU, despite repeated requests. In response, NTEU filed a National Grievance against FNS for failing to notice the union or bargain the proposed reorganization.
 
NTEU National has received no notice from FNS of any change in condition of employment surrounding these changes. Despite FNS not informing NTEU, NTEU has already requested information from FNS. The collective bargaining agreement, and the law, require that FNS provide notice and the opportunity to bargain over this change before it is implemented. NTEU will aggressively assert, and protect, all of your rights. 

April 30, 2026