09.03.25

Labor Leaders Challenge Labor Department Agenda Dismantling Workers’ Rights

WASHINGTON – House labor leaders sent a series of letters to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or the Department) Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, calling on the Department to honor its promise to uphold workers’ civil rights and guarantee workers fair pay, benefits, and a safe working environment.

The letters were sent by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05), House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

The Members are raising concerns as the Trump Administration has begun to implement an aggressive deregulatory agenda that weakens workers’ civil rights, undermines worker protections and hard-earned wages, downgrades the U.S. economy, and eliminates agencies designed to protect workers, all while purportedly pledging to support American workers and bolster the economy.

In the letters the lawmakers:

  • Oppose a proposed rule that rolls back regulations implementing congressionally mandated affirmative action by federal contractors to ensure that disabled employees and applicants are hired, retained, and promoted.
  • Oppose a proposed rule that weakens civil rights protections and rescinds all affirmative action requirements that are a part of the Registered Apprenticeship standards.
  • Oppose a proposed rule that would end merit-based State Employment Services.
  • Oppose a proposed rule that strips protections from homecare workers.
  • Oppose a proposed rule that rescinds labor protections for farmworkers on guest worker visas.

On July 2, 2025, Ranking Member Scott requested a briefing on the Department of Labor’s “deregulatory initiative.” The Department of Labor has yet to respond. 

To read Rep. Scott’s letter on the Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service Staffing proposed rule, click here.

To read Rep. Scott’s letter on Modifications to Regulations Implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, click here.

To read Rep. Scott’s letter on the Prohibiting Illegal Discrimination in Registered Apprenticeship Programs proposed rule, click here.

To read Rep. Scott’s letter on the Recission of Executive Order 11246 Implementing Regulations proposed rule, click here.

 

To read Rep. Scott and Omar’s letter on the Recission of the Final Rule Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States, click here.

 

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