DOL faces deep cut, NLRB moves to full functionality

House Republicans proposed a 27% funding decrease for the Department of Labor (DOL), mirroring much of the Trump administration’s goals and perspectives. In prior years, similar proposed cuts have been successfully opposed by House Democrats, but questions persist about whether there is Democratic support for additional funding for Trump’s agenda. A radically diminished DOL would be felt in programs that affect everyday Americans, protecting wage fairness, pensions, health, and safety, among others.

Reduction in funding 

The bill to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education would eliminate several key parts of the DOL, including the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Women’s Bureau, and the International Labor Affairs Bureau. In all, the package would give the department $3.7 billion less than current funding levels. The bill specifically seeks to reduce funding for the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) by $25 million and for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) by $52 million.