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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The Senate Confirms James Woodruff as a Member of the Merit Systems Protection Board
Woodruff was confirmed on a straight party line vote.
Impact:
The MSPB now has a quorum, which means it can take up the cases of federal employees who believe their rights have been violated, but with a Republican majority, there are worries that the MSPB will rubber-stamp the Trump administration's actions in firing so many workers.
The Senate Confirms Brittany Panuccio as a Commissioner on the EEOC
Panuccio has virtually no relevant professional experience and as she made clear in her confirmation hearing, she will be a rubber stamp for the Trump administration's attack on civil rights.
Impact:
The EEOC now has a quorum, which means it can start reversing important guidance that protects LGBTQ+ workers, people with criminal records, and other workers from discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
The Senate Confirms a Number of Nominees, Including Jonathan Berry, Andrew Rogers, and David Keeling to Positions in DOL
Berry, the author of the labor and employment chapter of Project 2025, which calls for loosening restrictions against child labor, waivers of federal wage and hour laws, and an all-out abandonment of protections for LGBTQ+ workers, has been confirmed as the Solicitor of Labor. Keeling is the head of OSHA and Rogers is the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division.
Impact:
All have a decidedly pro-business orientation, but Berry's views on the rights of workers are far outside the mainstream and his confirmation is grave cause for concern.
Trump Nominates James Murphy and Scott Mayer to the NLRB
Murphy is a partner at management-side law firm Ogletree Deakins, and Mayer is the chief labor counsel at the Boeing Corporation. Ogletree is a well-known union-busting firm, and Boeing has engaged in longstanding union-busting campaigns to prevent its employees from engaging in collective bargaining.
Impact:
With the addition of these two pro-management members to the Board, expect the Board's actions and decisions to reflect their bias toward management.
Trump Picks Former Congressman for Labor Inspector General
Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican from New York who recently lost re-election amidst controversy over unethical conduct, is Trump’s pick for labor inspector general (IG).
Impact:
Trump’s pick of former Rep. D’Esposito as labor IG comes after Trump fired Larry Turner along with a dozen other agency IGs in a clear attempt to insulate the Trump administration from any independent oversight or accountability.
Trump Nominates Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Leader and Labor Solicitor
Trump has nominated EEOC Acting General Counsel Andrew Rogers as head of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and conservative attorney Jonathan Berry as labor solicitor.
Impact:
Andrew Rogers previously worked in the WHD during Trump’s first administration. Jonathan Berry co-authored the Trump administration’s blueprint Project 2025.
Trump Nominates Andrea Lucas for Another Term on the EEOC
Since becoming Acting Chair of the EEOC, Lucas has led the agency in abandoning claims on behalf of transgender individuals, has issued statements and documents purporting to be guidance attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and is making demands of 20 large law firms, without any legal authority to do so, to turn over information about their DEI practices.
Impact:
Lucas, who voted with the Democrats on some matters in the past, has been completely catering to the Administration's attacks on civil rights and has shown no evidence of independence since Trump has taken office.
Crystal Carey is Nominated to be General Counsel at the National Labor Relations Board
Carey is a management side attorney at the well-known union-busting firm Morgan Lewis.
Impact:
This is one of the many steps that the Trump administration is taking to stack the deck against workers who want to unionize and collectively bargain with their employers over the terms and conditions of their labor.
Keith Sonderling is confirmed as Deputy Secretary of US DOL
Sonderling was confirmed on a party-line vote.
Impact:
Now that the Secretary and Deputy Secretary have been confirmed, we can expect DOL to start rolling out its deregulatory agenda, aimed at helping employers at the expense of their workers.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer is confirmed as Labor Secretary
With a bi-partisan vote of 67-32, Chavez-DeRemer becomes the Secretary of Labor.
Impact:
During her confirmation hearing, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer promised to "put American workers first," though she was short on details, and indicated support for weakening the standard to determine employee status under the FLSA. Her continued use of the term "American workers" also leaves room for doubt about how DOL will protect the rights of immigrant workers.