Final answer:
The statement is broadly true (a); the Homeland Security Act of 2002, in conjunction with other legislation, allows the President to waive certain employee and union rights for national security reasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the President may waive employee and union rights granted under the Civil Service Reform Act. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 did allow for significant reorganization of federal government agencies to better address domestic security and emergency response, which was seen as a move to consolidate federal power following the 9/11 attacks.
However, the specific provision that allows the President to waive employee and union rights granted under the Civil Service Reform Act falls under a different piece of legislation, the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, which is Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. This statute does provide the President with the authority to exclude agencies or subdivisions thereof from coverage under the statute if the President determines that such an exclusion is necessary for national security reasons.
Therefore, the statement in the question is broadly true, although it is important to note that such waivers are specific to national security reasons and are not a blanket waiving of all rights under all circumstances.