Compliance Stuff

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) launched a new  open data portal  to enhance agency alignment and public access to workforce information collected and maintained by DOL agencies. The portal includes over 40 categories of data from agencies such as OSHA, MSHA and the Wage and Hour Division. Federal contractors should be aware the portal includes company-specific data from  VETS-4212 Reports  previously filed with the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS). Under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), covered federal contractors and subcontractors are required to annually report, via VETS-4212 Reports, information about the total number of employees and new hires by location, along with information about how many employees and new hires self-identified as protected veterans by location. In a Feb. 18, 2026, announcement, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration & Management (OASAM) explained the portal was develo...

Tomorrow (July 1, 2025), OSHA and MSHA will publish  over 30 proposed rules , many of which request public comment, in the Federal Register.  Included in OSHA’s slate of proposed rules is a Rescission of Coordinated Enforcement Regulations, and a proposed clarification of its Interpretation of the General Duty Clause .  Jackson Lewis is monitoring these developments and will follow up with more details as soon as possible. In the meantime, please contact your Jackson Lewis attorney with any questions or if you would like to discuss these proposed rules.   Source(s): Marsh, L. B. (2025, June 30).  BREAKING NEWS: OSHA, MSHA to Publish 30+ Proposed Rules July 1 . OSHA Law Blog. https://www.oshalawblog.com/2025/06/articles/breaking-news-osha-msha-to-publish-30-proposed-rules-july-1/ Federal Register Documents Currently on Public Inspection . (2025). Federal Register. https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/current#regular-filing-occupational-safety-an...

On June 5, 2025, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding the Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. The proposed budget includes significant funding reductions for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), specifically targeting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The proposal seeks to cut OSHA’s funding by approximately $50 million and reduce its full-time workforce by 223 positions, shifting the agency’s focus toward increased compliance assistance rather than direct enforcement. The enforcement budget for OSHA would be reduced by about $23.7 million compared to the previous year. Broader DOL cuts are also proposed, with an emphasis on consolidating workforce programs and reducing regulatory burdens. Quick Hits Secretary Chavez-DeRemer testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on June 5, 2025, abo...

On June 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) expanded its opinion letter program, which should provide guidance on areas handled by multiple enforcement agencies within the DOL . Publication of opinion letters is a priority for the Trump administration and this program is evidence of the federal government’s intention to issue more guidance to the public. Opinion Letter Process Opinion letters issued by the DOL are official publications that explain how the DOL enforces various laws and regulations under specific scenarios submitted by a requesting party. Opinion letters offer timely guidance to both employers and individuals, while also providing insight into the agency’s likely positions in future rulemaking or litigation. While they do not override existing statutes or regulations, they provide authoritative guidance that can help employers and individuals navigate compliance with greater confidence . Employers that rely on an opinion letter in good faith may use that relianc...

While new presidents are typically judged based on their actions in their first 100 days, the current Trump administration has moved at such a rapid speed that we think another recap is needed at the halfway point. Here’s your employer cheat sheet on Trump’s first 50 days. Table of Contents Immigration DEI and Equal Opportunity Compliance Affirmative Action and Federal Contract Compliance Labor Relations Workplace Safety Employee Defection and Trade Secrets Artificial Intelligence Education Immigration Trump signed 10 immigration orders on day one (Jan. 20).  These executive orders, among other things, declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, reinstated the “remain in Mexico” policy, terminated the asylum related mobile app, and designated Mexican criminal cartels as terrorist organizations. Read more  here . Trump also  tried to  end automatic birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants,  but this order has been  blocked ...