Limiting Lame-Duck Collective Bargaining Agreements That Improperly Attempt To Constrain the New President

The presidential memorandum issued on January 31, 2025, restricts executive departments and agencies from finalizing collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) within 30 days before a new presidential administration takes office. This action aims to prevent outgoing administrations from binding their successors with policies that may not align with the new administration's goals, thereby preserving the incoming president's authority to manage the executive branch effectively. The memorandum excludes CBAs primarily covering law enforcement officers and mandates disapproval of any agreements violating these new restrictions unless they are consistent with existing contractual provisions.