Trump mandates reporting on labor union negotiation costs

The Trump administration is asking federal agencies to report their spending on labor union negotiations over the past year. This move is seen as part of an effort to reduce government costs. A memo from the Office of Personnel Management instructed agency leaders to include costs related to negotiations, such as employee salaries, mediation fees, and the value of office space used for talks. The memo stated that millions have been spent on collective bargaining agreements, which may not be efficient for government operations. For example, the Social Security Administration reportedly spent $1.8 million on agreements with two union groups. This data collection is one of the latest steps in the Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to cut spending. Trump's approach to unions contrasts sharply with President Biden, who has promoted pro-labor policies. In his past term, Trump appointed anti-union officials to key labor positions. Currently, his nominee for Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is a pro-labor Republican. This isn't the first time Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency have clashed with labor unions. Trump has mandated that federal workers return to the office full-time, despite existing agreements favoring remote work. Labor groups have raised concerns and initiated legal challenges against these new mandates and job cuts.