Worker Policy Watch
Your source for accurate and reliable information on how federal policies are shaping workers’ rights—and what’s at stake for working people nationwide under the Trump administration.
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Black Women Disproportionately Impacted By Trump Administration Layoffs and Policy Changes
Around 300,000 Black women have exited the labor force in the U.S. in the past three months driven largely by layoffs and policy changes under the Trump administration, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics and other experts.
Impact:
In addition to the mass firings and layoffs of federal workers, the Trump administration’s crackdown on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility has changed the workforce landscape in the corporate world, leading to large numbers of Black women leaving the workforce.
Unions File Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Plans For Mass Layoffs During the Government Shutdown
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) filed a lawsuit today challenging the mass layoff plans the Trump administration has instructed for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) during the government shutdown.
Impact:
The Federal government officially shutdown at 12:01amET on Wednesday, October 1st. The lawsuit, filed on September 30th, alleges that OPM is unlawfully directing agencies to issue mass reduction of force (RIF) notices that could strip employees of back pay rights (currently required by law), violate agencies’ statutory duties, and target workers whose jobs are essential during a shutdown. The lawsuit also names as defendants the Office of Personnel Management and its Director Scott Kupor, which issued unprecedented instructions that federal employees may perform work during the federal government shutdown in order to carry out mass RIFs, in violation of the law.
DOL Withdraws Proposed Rule Before Publication to Amend Child Labor Protections
There was never publicly available information about precisely what DOL was considering, but NELP opposes any attempts to weaken child labor laws.
Impact: There will be no changes, at least for now, to DOL child labor restrictions.
DOL Wage and Hour Division Has New Acting Administrator
The Trump administration has quietly replaced the Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour division acting administrator Donald Harrison with James Macy.
Impact:
Donald Harrison had been acting administrator since April, and rescinded Biden-era guidance on independent contractor status and prohibiting the seeking of liquidated damages under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) during his tenure. The nomination of Andrew Rogers to serve as Administration of the Wage and Hour Division has been pending since June.
Trump Orders Payment of $100,000 for Any New Visas Issued to Foreign Workers in Certain Highly Skilled Professions
This payment is designed to try to stem abuse of this program and instead make sure employers make adequate efforts to fill the positions with people already living in the United States.
Impact: With the new fee applying only to new visas and not to existing visa holders, it remains to be seen just how effective the new policy will be.
Trump Issues “The Gold Card” Executive Order, Allowing People and Employers To Purchase Immigration Visas for $1 Million and $2 Million Respectively
Visas are very hard to come by, with many people waiting more than a decade to immigrate to the United States to escape oppressive conditions and be reunited with family members.
Impact: The United States will now start the unseemly practice of selling visas to those who can afford to spend exhorbitant amounts of money, rather than those who have waited in line and have compelling reasons to immigrate.
The Centers for Disease Control End Telework for Workers With Disabilities Who Need Reasonable Accommodations
The federal government is required to provide reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities so they can perform their jobs. Often, teleworking is the most effective accommodation.
Impact: Once the current accommodations expire, workers with disabilities will find it much more difficult to continue working at the CDC, perhaps leading to further reductions in an already depleted and much needed workforce.
FTC Abandons Defense of the Noncompete Rule Amidst Legal Challenge
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has withdrawn notices of appeal that involved challenges to its proposed rule to ban most non-compete agreements.
Impact:
Under the Biden administration in 2024, the FTC issued a rule that would have banned virtually all new non-competes for all workers. A federal court in Texas blocked the rule from taking effect nationwide, ruling that the FTC exceeded its authority, and the FTC filed an appeal of the court’s decision. The Trump administration effectively ended the federal ban on non-competes when it announced on September 5th that it was withdrawing the appeal.
Almost Half a Million Federal Workers Lose Union Rights Under Trump
More than 445,000 federal workers have been stripped of their union rights and protections in response to two executive orders issued by the Trump administration.
Impact:
The first executive order signed in March had been challenged by five labor unions who have sued the Trump administration over the order. On August 1st an appeals court ruling resulted in the loss of protection against that executive order for millions of federal workers. Last week, Trump signed an additional executive order stripping union rights and protections from federal workers at six other federal agencies.
Immigration Raids and Audits Impacting Workers and Elevating Risks to Businesses
Aggressive Trump administration immigration policy is putting businesses and gig corporations and their workforces on edge as companies anticipate a hiring squeeze.
Impact:
More than two dozen quarterly or annual filings from companies over the last month have revealed deep anxiety over civil penalties, workplace raids, and worker shortages in many sectors, as a result of the Trump administration’s immigration policy. Impacts are being felt and anticipated in science and technology sectors as well as in app-based or gig corporations. In some cities, up to 90 percent of ridehail drivers on digital labor platforms are immigrants, according to some reports.