Photo: House Committee on Education & Workforce
Washington — The Department of Labor can maintain its workplace safety and health enforcement capacity even under a much slimmer budget, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer recently told House lawmakers.
During a June 5 hearing of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Chavez-DeRemer fielded questions about the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to DOL’s fiscal year 2026 budget – released May 30. The White House is seeking to trim around $50 million from OSHA’s funding and cut the agency’s full-time equivalent workforce by 223 – to 1,587 from 1,810.
The agency is expected to achieve some of that reduction by spending around $23.7 million less than the $243 million allotted in FY 2025 for enforcement efforts, focusing more on compliance assistance.
Committee Democrats countered Chavez-DeRemer’s contention, arguing that the cuts would make enforcement efforts more difficult for OSHA and other agencies. They contend DOL already lacks enough resources. That includes the often-cited statistic that OSHA has enough inspectors to investigate every workplace in America only once every 185 years.
“Many workers across the country will feel the impact of your staffing and funding cuts to [the Wage and Hour Division] and OSHA,” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said.
Chavez-DeRemer responded to another question about investigations, specifically about child labor violations, from Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) with:
“When we equate that to the budget, will more money always solve the problem? I would probably have to disagree there. I think oftentimes we need to modernize and streamline. I think that’s what this budget does. We will statutorily always investigate and do what is right when we have those complaints, and we will follow up on the law.”
Proposed heat rule
In response to questions from both sides of the aisle, Chavez-DeRemer wouldn’t comment “specifically” on OSHA’s proposed rule on heat illness and injury prevention. An “informal” and public virtual hearing on the proposal is set for June 16.
Among those questioning Chavez-DeRemer on the proposal was Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), who got “big business and industry lobbyists” to agree during a May 15 committee hearing that workers shouldn’t be exposed to extreme heat for hours on end without a break.
“I understand that you’re in the rulemaking process right now, so I’m not going to ask specifically about the rule you’ll put out,” Casar said, “but what I do want to ask is: Would you agree with some of those industry folks that were sitting here that it’s wrong if it’s 90 degrees for somebody to start at 7 in the morning and they’re working all the way up to lunch and they haven’t been given a break?”
Chavez-DeRemer responded, “I will not give my personal opinion because as secretary of labor I cannot put my thumb on the scale.”
Insights into office closures
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the committee, asked about reported office closures and reopenings.
In March, the Department of Government Efficiency listed 18 OSHA offices among its “lease terminations” and potential closures, as well as more than two dozen Mine Safety and Health Administration offices.
All the OSHA offices have been removed from the list. Seven remain for MSHA, including three in Kentucky. The others are in Rock View, WV; Mount Pleasant, PA; Longview, TX; and Craig, CO.
Chavez-DeRemer said the decision to terminate those leases and potentially close those offices was done by the General Services Administration before she was confirmed as secretary.
“We’ve worked with [GSA] specifically to have them understand the importance that statutorily we need to have [those offices open] in the Department of Labor,” she said.
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.
Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication