Trump has plans to make American workers suffer again by dismantling the Department of Labor, the agency that enforces all kinds of employment laws such as wage theft, workplace safety, and job discrimination.
His DOL recently sent out two rounds of memorandums asking employees to resign through Elon Musk’s Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) that was first launched in January. The first round of solicitation was sent to four DOL agencies: the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), Office of Public Affairs (OPA), and the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).
A week later, a second round of DRP offers were sent to the rest of the department with some positions exempted due to a technicality.
DOL told workers that layoffs were coming, so more than 2,700 of the department’s 14,578 employees took the DRP offer. DOL is also urging people to retire early under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA).
“These agencies play crucial roles in protecting workers, ensuring fair wages, and supporting businesses. Their absence would have severe economic and social repercussions across our country,” said Omar Algeciras, regional vice president of AFGE Local 2391representing DOL workers in Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan.
As part of its strategy to get people to quit, DOL also told employees living outside the National Capital region with a remote work arrangement both voluntary and as a condition of employment to report to work full time at their new duty stations by April 20 if they live within 50 miles of a DOL office.
Besides requiring people to return to the physical offices, Trump is also taking away childcare subsidies and removing the Employees Assistance Program (EAP) that provides confidential support to employees facing personal or work-related issues that may affect their well-being and productivity.
But what would happen to our country and workers if Trump dismantles DOL and these employees are gone?
We have the answer.
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) enforces minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor laws. Without this oversight, wage theft cases would likely skyrocket, leaving workers vulnerable to unpaid wages and exploitation. WHD has recovered millions in back wages for workers who were not properly compensated, including farm workers who are among the most vulnerable laborers.
From 2019 to 2024, the number of children employed in violation of federal child labor laws increased 31%. WHD found that children as young as 11 are working long hours, operating dangerous equipment at meat processing plants, sawmills, and construction sites.
Eliminating WHD would leave no federal enforcement mechanism to address these issues. We can’t rely on states either as some do not have an equivalent enforcement agency.
OSHA ensures safe working conditions by conducting inspections, investigating complaints, and enforcing safety standards. Without OSHA, workers in the United States, especially in high-risk industries like construction, agriculture, and mining, would be at much greater risk of injury or death.
The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) enforces the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), which protects veterans and service members from job discrimination. VETS also helps employers find qualified veterans in their areas, provides grants to organizations that hire and train veterans, helps veterans and military spouses find a job, among other services.
The U.S. has over 15 million veterans, representing 6.1% of the total civilian population aged 18 and over. Without VETS, there would be no federal enforcement ensuring their rights in the workplace.
The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers workers’ compensation benefits for injured federal employees, coal miners, and other specialized worker groups. Without OWCP, injured workers would struggle to receive medical care and wage replacement benefits, impacting thousands of families.
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) monitors employer-sponsored retirement plans including 401(k)s, pensions, and healthcare benefits to prevent fraud and mismanagement. Without EBSA, employers could mismanage retirement funds, leaving workers without the financial security they depend on after years of service.
The Women’s Bureau promotes policies that benefit women (and by extension, families) such as equal pay, maternity leave, and workplace safety. Despite significant advancements, gender inequities persist in various sectors, including wages, employment opportunities, and representation in leadership roles. Women, especially women of color and those from marginalized communities, continue to face systemic barriers. The Women’s Bureau researches and gathers data to advocate for policies addressing these disparities. Without this focused attention, progress toward gender equality could stagnate or regress.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) was created in response to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Executive Order 11246 signed in 1965 to prohibit discrimination in employment by federal contractors and subcontractors. But Trump rescinded this directive after being in office for only one day. He put 90% of the OFCCP workforce on administrative leave, gutting the enforcement of the law. The office went from 479 employees to 50 to serve the entire country (15 in the national office and 35 investigators). OFCCP has been dismantled.
Federal contractors receive billions in government contracts each year, meaning their employment practices directly affect millions of workers across the country. Without OFCCP, discriminatory hiring and pay practices among federal contractors would go unchecked, rolling back decades of progress toward workplace equity.
Before the president repealed this important EO, OFCCP ensured that federal contractors complied with equal employment opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action laws, protecting women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities from discrimination.
The office now only enforces two laws: Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities) and Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) (protects veterans from employment discrimination). AFGE supports H.R. 989 that would codify EO 11246.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides employment, wage, and economic data used by businesses, policymakers, and researchers. Without BLS, businesses would lack accurate labor market information, making it harder to set wages, plan for workforce needs, and predict economic trends.
It will also affect federal workers’ pay as BLS conducts locality pay surveys used to calculate their pay adjustments each year.
The Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ) handles labor law disputes, including workplace safety violations, wage and hour cases, and federal contractor compliance issues. Without OALJ, workers and employers would lose access to impartial legal proceedings, making it harder to resolve disputes related to wrongful termination, wage theft, and workplace safety violations.
Without OALJ, injured workers will not timely receive the benefits they are entitled to under law for performing dangerous and physically demanding jobs that the country relies on. The elimination of OALJ would clog the court system with labor disputes that previously had specialized judges to resolve cases efficiently. Litigation time and costs will increase for both claimants and employers.
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) funds workforce training programs, apprenticeships, and Job Corps centers, which help workers gain the skills they need for stable careers. The Office of Apprenticeship (OA), part of ETA, oversees Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) that provide high-quality, earn-as-you-learn training in industries such as healthcare, construction, and advanced manufacturing.
Eliminating ETA and OA would severely hurt our country’s workforce development, reducing access to career pathways for young workers, displaced employees, and underrepresented communities. Without OA, apprenticeships could lose national recognition, making it harder for workers to transition between jobs and for employers to find skilled labor.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforces safety regulations for mines, ensuring that miners have safe working conditions and access to proper protective equipment. The U.S. has a significant mining industry, including copper, gold, and silver mining. Without MSHA, there would be no federal oversight to prevent mine collapses, explosions, or toxic exposure.
MSHA inspections have saved countless lives by identifying and correcting safety hazards before they lead to disasters. Eliminating MSHA would put thousands of miners at extreme risk.
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) combats child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking around the world and ensures that labor rights are upheld in U.S. trade agreements.
Without ILAB, the U.S. would lose its ability to enforce labor protections in international supply chains—allowing unethical labor practices abroad that undercut U.S. businesses and jobs. ILAB also funds programs that help eliminate child labor and improve working conditions globally, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to fair labor practices and human rights. Weakening or eliminating ILAB would jeopardize U.S. credibility on human rights and labor standards and could lead to more exploitative labor being used in goods entering U.S. markets.
The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) promotes union democracy and financial integrity by enforcing the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The office ensures union members have the right to participate in fair elections, access financial reports, and hold leadership accountable. Eliminating OLMS would weaken transparency and increase the risk of corruption, mismanagement, and disenfranchisement within unions. Workers deserve confidence that their union dues are used responsibly and that their voices are heard. OLMS ensures that standard.
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