Despite a proposed reduction in funding and staffing levels for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer assured lawmakers that the agency’s core mission to protect workers will remain uncompromised.

Speaking before the House Education and Workforce Committee on June 5, Chavez-DeRemer responded to concerns about the Department of Labor’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which would reduce OSHA’s funding from $632.3 million to $582.4 million and cut staffing from 1,810 to 1,587 full-time employees. The secretary framed the move as part of a broader push to eliminate inefficiencies across the federal government.

A streamlined OSHA, she argued, could still deliver results.

“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 secretary emphasized that the changes are intended to “modernize and streamline” operations rather than undercut enforcement. “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 added.

Pushback from Lawmakers on Staffing Cuts

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., pressed Chavez-DeRemer on the feasibility of effective workplace inspections with fewer OSHA staff, citing a commonly referenced estimate that it would take nearly 200 years for OSHA to inspect every U.S. workplace under current staffing levels. In response, the labor secretary highlighted that OSHA personnel, along with members of the Wage and Hour Division, are considered essential and are therefore exempt from the Department of Government Efficiency’s deferred resignation program.

Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga., similarly questioned how the agency could effectively address wage theft and other violations with diminished resources. Chavez-DeRemer defended the cuts, suggesting that increasing budgets isn’t always the solution. “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.

Heat Safety Rule Still Under Consideration

The hearing also touched on OSHA’s proposed heat safety standard, which was initiated during the Biden administration and appeared to be on uncertain footing following President Donald Trump’s return to office in 2024. While many speculated the rule would be shelved, it remains under active consideration, with public hearings scheduled to begin June 16.

Worker safety advocates have long called for enforceable heat standards, citing frequent reports of employers denying water and rest breaks to workers in extreme temperatures. Industry critics, however, argue that the rule’s detailed nature makes it burdensome and difficult to implement uniformly across different regions and job sites.

When asked for her stance on specific provisions—such as mandated rest breaks—Chavez-DeRemer demurred, citing her role as a neutral regulator.

“I will not give my personal opinion because as a Secretary of Labor I cannot put my thumb on the scale,” she said.

Nonetheless, she echoed concerns raised by Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., about the one-size-fits-all approach of the draft regulation.

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

Broader Workforce Strategy

Throughout the hearing, Chavez-DeRemer repeatedly emphasized the department’s commitment to modernizing its approach to workforce development, including its efforts to expand apprenticeships and vocational training.

As part of President Trump’s vision for reducing waste and inefficiencies across federal agencies, the Labor Department aims to revamp outdated practices while keeping worker protections intact.

While the proposed changes have drawn skepticism from some Democrats, Chavez-DeRemer maintained that leaner operations could lead to smarter enforcement and more agile regulatory oversight.

The fate of the proposed budget cuts and the heat safety rule will likely remain flashpoints in the ongoing debate over the future of labor protections in a changing economic and political landscape.

Originally reported by Zachary Phillips in Construction Dive.