“This contract isn’t a pro-union contract,” Zumkehr said. “Even without a collective bargaining agreement, corrections officers are still protected by civil service laws. Nelson argued that eliminating the collective bargaining agreements could free agencies to act quickly, particularly on matters tied to national security. “The Bureau of Prisons, part of the Department of Justice, was exempted from collective bargaining on national security grounds,” said Nelsen. “If Border Patrol isn’t classified under national security but prisons are, then this isn’t really about safety,” Zumkehr said.