Naveed Shah
Role at the time: Army veteran and political director of Common Defense, in a statement released by the organization
Condemned
Response to this claim
Secretary Collins terminated AFGE's contract in retaliation for the union's public opposition to cuts and changes at the VA.
“These workers are the backbone of the VA, ensuring our fellow veterans get the care and support they've earned. By gutting their union protections, this administration is attacking the very people who keep the VA running, risking worse care, longer wait times, and a hollowed-out system. This isn't about reform; it's about silencing those who stand up for what's right”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Common Defense release: Veterans fiercely condemn Trump administration after stripping union rights from Veteran Affairs workers · Common DefensePress release text
Why we used this label
The reference point is the Department of Veterans Affairs' exclusion from collective bargaining under Executive Order 14251, its termination of most of its union contracts on August 6, 2025, and its later treatment of the AFGE master agreement as expired in October 2026. Shah says the move attacks VA workers, risks worse care for veterans and is meant to silence critics, which condemns it.