Two Executive Orders, Two Very Different Responses from the Association World

As associations grapple with an increasingly complex political landscape, two major organizations recently demonstrated starkly different approaches to the impact of executive orders on associations and their members.

In the span of just one week in late April 2025, the association community witnessed a compelling study in contrasts. Two prominent professional societies, representing vastly different constituencies, took dramatically opposing stances on separate Executive Orders issued by President Trump’s administration.

These divergent responses highlight the complex balancing act associations face when presidential directives simultaneously create both opportunities and challenges across different sectors.

ASAE Embraces Workforce Modernization

On April 24, the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) publicly endorsed President Trump’s Executive Order to modernize federal workforce development programs. The order, signed April 23, directs the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce to conduct a comprehensive review of all federal workforce initiatives to address urgent talent pipeline needs in emerging industries.

ASAE not only applauded the administration’s approach but also actively offered its resources and expertise through the Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition as a key implementation partner. This coalition, led by ASAE and the Professional Certification Coalition, represents over 900 organizations across more than 50 industries nationwide.

“This Executive Order recognizes that building a modern workforce requires modern tools,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason.

“Associations are the backbone of skills-based training across countless industries, and ASAE, along with the Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition, is ready to collaborate with federal agencies to ensure the success of this initiative.”

ASAE particularly highlighted its support for the bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (S. 756/H.R. 1151), legislation that would expand qualified expenses under 529 education savings plans to include post-secondary training and credentialing programs. This expansion would provide critical tax advantages for workers pursuing career growth or transitions into high-demand fields.

AGU Battles Workforce Reduction

Meanwhile, just four days later, the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the world’s largest association of Earth and space scientists, took a dramatically different approach.

On April 28, AGU and a coalition of plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Trump’s February Executive Order No. 14210, which directs federal agencies to implement “large-scale” reductions in workforce and reorganization.

The lawsuit, filed as AFGE v. Trump in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, argues that the sweeping directive exceeds presidential authority and threatens hundreds of thousands of federal workers—particularly those in scientific agencies.

“This Executive Order is demanding layoffs on such a massive scale that they will have drastic, cascading effects on our members, the global scientific community, and the public,” said Janice R. Lachance, AGU’s Interim Executive Director and CEO.

“From forecasting severe weather and ensuring healthy crops to preventing uncontrollable wildfires and preparing communities for sea level rise, fully functioning federal scientific agencies are critical.”

AGU’s legal action builds on its ongoing efforts to protect the federal scientific workforce. The organization previously joined litigation against the Office of Personnel Management challenging the mass termination of probationary employees, a case that initially succeeded before being overturned by the Supreme Court.

These two cases provide a striking example of how the impact of executive orders on associations can vary widely depending on the sectors they serve and the policies they face.

The Stakes for Associations

These contrasting responses underscore how federal policy changes can shape the future of professional organizations, influencing everything from workforce pipelines to institutional trust.

For ASAE and its members, the workforce development directive presents a chance to enhance the role of associations in professional credentialing and alternative career pathways. For AGU and its scientific community, the workforce reduction order represents an existential threat to research infrastructure and public safety.

What makes these parallel responses particularly noteworthy is how they illuminate the increasingly complex advocacy landscape facing associations. No longer can organizations simply focus on narrow policy concerns affecting only their direct membership. Today’s interconnected challenges require associations to consider broader implications across sectors, balancing collaboration with principled opposition when necessary.

The Way Forward – Association Strategy After Executive Action

As more associations face the ripple effects of future executive decisions, understanding how executive orders affect associations will be key to building smart advocacy strategies.

ASAE’s approach demonstrates the potential for constructive engagement, while AGU’s lawsuit highlights the responsibility to defend core values and constituencies even when politically difficult.

For association executives watching these developments, the lesson may be that both approaches have their place, requiring thoughtful consideration of when to extend a hand and when to take a stand.

In an era when presidential directives can reshape entire industries overnight, associations must be prepared to respond with agility, clarity, and conviction.

What do you think? Should associations take more public positions on executive actions? How can organizations balance collaboration with advocacy? Share your thoughts in the comments on Association Chat’s Facebook Group or LinkedIn Group.

This article was prepared for Association Chat based on press releases from ASAE and AGU in April 2025.