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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Trump Administration Cancels $500 Million in Grants Designed to Combat Child Labor, Trafficking, and Forced Labor
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) was ordered to cease all grantmaking, being told that it no longer aligned with agency priorities or the national interest.
Impact:
ILAB makes these grants not just to protect workers abroad, but also to make sure that foreign based work doesn't have an unfair advantage over goods produced in the United States.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Plans to Shut or Downsize Several Agencies, Laying Off 10,000 People
The Administration is continuing its careless cutting of government jobs, hindering HHS from doing the work it needs to do to protect the public health.
Impact:
The planned closures include departments within the Centers for Disease Control, which could have widespread implications for public health as well as workplace health.
ICE Detains a Washington State Farmworker Union Leader
Alfredo Juarez Zeferino, a DACA applicant who had no criminal record, was taken into custody on March 25th.
Impact:
This is clearly an attempt to chill union organizing activities among immigrant workers.
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.
OFCCP Director to Weaponize Agency Against Civil Rights
The new Trump-appointed director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Catherine Eschbach, told employees that the agency must “conduct an autopsy” of its actions and regulations. Eschbach wrote that the agency has until late April to verify that companies are no longer utilizing affirmative action plans, and will advise Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer on ways to use the agency’s investigative authority to intimidate corporations, nonprofits, foundations, associations, and universities that practice diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Impact:
Until Trump’s rescission of Executive Order 11246, OFCCP was dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity in workplaces at companies and other institutions that contract with the federal government. The Trump administration now seeks to both rescind most of the agency’s mission and weaponize the agency against entities that attempt to continue to protect civil rights and utilize best practices to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Fourth Circuit Refuses to Pause the Reinstatement of Probationary Employees Who Were Fired from Federal Agencies
The appeals court defers to the disctrict court which found that the terminations were illegal.
Impact:
25,000 workers have the right to be reinstated to their jobs.
Trump Administration guts the Civil Rights and Immigration Liaison Offices within the Department of Homeland Security
The Trump Administration fired virtually everyone from the offices within DHS that work to ensure that our nation's immigration policies are carried out in a manner that protects the civil rights of immigrants.
Impact:
Essentially, there is now no office within DHS through which immigrants can report any violations of their civil rights, giving the Trump administration even more free rein to carry out detention and removal proceedings in a cruel and illegal fashion.
Department of Justice Withdraws 11 Pieces of Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Compliance Guidance
Among the guidance that's been withdrawn is the type of access employers must give employees to know their rights under the ADA.
Impact:
This is yet another part of the Trump Administration's attack on the hard-won civil rights that workers should enjoy in this country.
Trump Fires the Democratic Members of the Federal Trade Commission
As he has done with other agencies, Trump is trying to fire Democratic members even though FTC Commissioners can only be fired for cause.
Impact:
This is another attempt to stack the deck in the favor of businesses over workers and consumers.
The NLRB Drops a Case Against an Immigrant Detention Center which Allegedly Retaliated Against Detainees’ Concerted Activities
Detainees were working full time for as little as $1 per day and when they engaged in labor strikes, they were punished, including being sent to solitary confinement.
Impact:
With the NLRB dropping the case that was brought by the former General Counsel, it is clear that they will not protect immigrant detainees against abuse and unjust working conditions while they are in detention centers.