Wage and Hour nominee Andrew Rogers vows enforcement focus on guidance and child-labor investigations

Andrew Rogers, President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, told the Senate HELP Committee he would pursue a dual approach of clear guidance for employers paired with vigorous enforcement and data-driven investigations.

Rogers told the committee that Wage and Hour’s mission requires both “guidance and enforcement” to succeed. “The wage and hour division is most effective when it is diligently pursuing and advancing both aspects of its purpose,” he said.

In written and oral exchanges, senators pressed Rogers on illegal child labor and office closures. Senator Josh Hawley and others referenced reporting and whistleblower tips about underage labor at poultry processors, including Tyson Foods; Rogers said he could not comment on specific investigations but committed to continuing investigations of child-labor violations and to using available data and resources to target enforcement.

Senator Chris Murphy raised the March decision to terminate the lease for the Manchester, New Hampshire Wage and Hour Division office; Rogers said he lacked current insight but, if confirmed, would look into the closure and work with the senator’s office.

Rogers described his background in wage-and-hour litigation and private practice, and said enforcement should be “transparent, fair and collaborative,” using stakeholder engagement and data to direct activity. He also described the Wage and Hour Division’s role enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child-labor provisions and said some violations stem from employer misunderstandings while others are intentional and require rigorous enforcement.

During the hearing Rogers pledged to enforce statutes within his purview, including the Davis-Bacon Act, and to ensure prevailing-wage calculations rely on appropriate data. He agreed to follow up on a specific Manchester office question and to review ongoing investigations if confirmed.

No committee vote occurred at the hearing; senators offered additional written questions for the record.