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Lawmakers Say Labor Department Staff Reductions and Office Closures Threaten Enforcement Capacity; Secretary Cites Litigation Limits
Summary
Senators pressed Labor Secretary Chavez de Reamer about workforce reductions under an agency deferred resignation program, exemptions for inspectors, and the effective closure or reduction of enforcement offices including OFCCP; the secretary said enforcement remains a priority but cited litigation limits on discussing some matters.
Senator Baldwin and others raised concerns that recent workforce-reduction initiatives are reducing the department's ability to enforce labor protections. Baldwin said the department has "pushed out approximately 20% of its staff who are now being paid not to work" and said the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) had been reduced by an estimated 25 percent, a change she said could undermine protection of benefits for tens of…
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