In a decisive move to protect its state sovereignty, Florida has filed a lawsuit against several Biden administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and three federal entities over perceived federal encroachment into the state’s labor relations.

The legal action, filed this Wednesday, asserts that the Federal Transit Administration, the Departments of Labor and Transportation, as well as certain officials heading these departments, have unlawfully threatened to cut off federal grants due to a newly instated union law, which the Biden administration opposes.

This particular law, championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, was enacted on July 1.

It streamlines the “decertifying” process for unions and prohibits certain state employers from deducting union dues directly from employees’ salaries.

While the Biden administration takes issue with this law, the state’s move simply seeks to give employees more autonomy over their financial commitments to unions.

The Florida Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC), overseen by appointees from Gov. DeSantis, possesses the authority to grant exceptions to this new law.

However, the Department of Labor has declared its intention to block some federal grants unless PERC indefinitely waives the new stipulations for mass transit employees.

As revealed by the Florida Public Transportation Association, this puts over $800 million of federal funding in jeopardy.

Though PERC has shown willingness to negotiate by offering temporary waivers, the Department of Labor insists on permanent ones to align with federal guidelines.

Labeling the federal government’s stance as “flagrantly unconstitutional,” the lawsuit petitions a federal judge to restrain the agencies from withholding the crucial federal grants.

Moreover, it urges the judge to deem the segment of the federal law, which the Department of Labor leans on to challenge Florida’s law, as unconstitutional.

The legal documentation acknowledges the right of employees to unionize.

However, it forcefully argues against Biden administration policies, which seem to indirectly compel public employees to join unions.

The lawsuit states: “The Biden Administration seeks to elevate the political and financial interests of Florida’s public sector unions over the rights of working class Floridians to make that decision for themselves.”

Attorney General Ashley Moody firmly remarked, “Florida passed laws to protect workers from being strong-armed by unions. Biden continues to try to force states to implement his bad policies.”

Though there have been legal objections to Florida’s fresh law, some have already been dismissed.

Importantly, the state’s lawsuit emphasizes that Florida has no intentions of infringing upon the collective bargaining rights enshrined in its constitution.

Secretary Buttigieg and the Department of Transportation have opted for silence, refusing to comment on the “ongoing litigation.”