Big changes underway in Trump’s employment agencies and policies

The new Trump administration is officially taking shape, bringing big changes to the federal employment agencies and their approach to policies and enforcement, as well as a number of new Executive Orders (EOs) that affect employment law.

DOL

It’s way too early to be definitive, but the new Trump Department of Labor (DOL) is certainly likely to bring some changes that will be felt in California. The president surprised many people by his unusual pick of Oregon Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary. She is viewed as a moderate Republican with ties to labor unions, and she supported the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.

Still, it’s on-brand for Trump to make controversial picks, and this one might be a political thank you to Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, an early and vocal Chavez-DeRemer booster. While she awaits confirmation, the president has appointed Vince Micone to be Acting Labor Secretary.

NLRB

The president hasn’t publicly announced his nominee for the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) General Counsel—another significant position in pursuing unfair labor practice charges and other labor law matters—but expect him to replace the incumbent in that post soon after he takes office.