DOL Chief Defends OSHA’s Proposed Cuts

Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer told congressional leaders last week that a leaner OSHA could still effectively protect America’s workforce.

Speaking before the House Education and Workforce Committee on June 5, Chavez-DeRemer echoed former President Donald Trump’s focus on cutting waste and inefficiency in federal spending. She also addressed key issues related to the construction industry, including OSHA’s funding and the proposed federal heat safety standard.

“My department is hard at work collaborating with the Departments of Commerce and Education to unlock the potential of the American worker. We are looking to strengthen registered apprenticeships, modernize workforce development programs and invest in opportunities that upskill workers to meet current labor market demands,” Chavez-DeRemer said in her opening remarks.

The Department of Labor’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget includes $582.4 million for OSHA—down from $632.3 million in FY 2025—and a workforce reduction from 1,810 to 1,587 full-time employees.

Responding to Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who referenced the statistic that it would take OSHA nearly 200 years to inspect every U.S. workplace, Chavez-DeRemer noted that OSHA staff and the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division are considered essential. Therefore, she said, they are not eligible for the Department of Government Efficiency’s deferred resignation program.

“American workers can expect that the Department of Labor will protect the American worker as that is a core mission of the Department of Labor,” she said. When Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., questioned how the department could address wage theft with fewer resources, Chavez-DeRemer argued that the proposed budget would enhance efficiency.

“If we equate that to the budget and say, that again, more money will always solve the problem? I would probably have to disagree there,” she said.

Following Trump’s 2024 election win, it seemed likely that the OSHA heat safety rule drafted under the Biden administration might be scrapped. Critics argue the rule is overly prescriptive, complicating compliance, while safety advocates say workers often lack access to water and rest without such protections.

The rule remains in the rulemaking phase, and OSHA is set to begin public hearings on June 16. Though Chavez-DeRemer was asked repeatedly about the proposed rule’s specifics—such as how frequently breaks should be required during extreme heat—she withheld her stance.

“I will not give my personal opinion because as a Secretary of Labor I cannot put my thumb on the scale,” she said. However, she did align with Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., in expressing concerns about the rule’s broad application.

“One size fits all usually is a pretty standard practice that doesn’t always work for everybody geographically,” she said.

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