US Department of Labor unveils proposals to put American workers, businesses first in release of semiannual regulatory agenda

WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration today announced its Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, which provides the American people with a transparent look at regulations being considered by the Administration and ensures the public is engaged throughout the process. 

Including nearly 150 proposals under the U.S. Department of Labor’s jurisdiction, the agenda reflects President Trump’s ongoing commitment to protect workers, support business growth, and ultimately put American workers and businesses first. 

“Eliminating red tape and crafting smart regulations that spur job creation will bring us even closer to reaching the Golden Age of the American Worker. The Department of Labor is committed to helping President Trump and the entire Administration implement this bold regulatory agenda, which focuses on flexibility, transparency, and common-sense reform to ensure every hardworking family has a fair shot at achieving the American Dream,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. 

“This regulatory agenda reflects our steadfast commitment to restoring economic opportunity by fostering innovation and reducing unnecessary burdens on employers,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “By modernizing outdated rules and prioritizing clarity and efficiency, we’re building a more agile, worker-centered labor policy framework that fuels economic growth and prosperity. Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Labor is delivering the regulatory certainty that American workers and businesses need to thrive.”

The department advanced a set of high-priority actions designed to reduce unnecessary burdens on employers and employees, with proposals addressing issues surrounding pharmacy benefit managers, independent contractors, joint employers, and others, including:  

• Improving Transparency into Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fee Disclosure: Pursuant to President Trump’s April 15 Executive Order, “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First,” the department will look at ways to improve transparency around the direct and indirect compensation PBMs receive from employer-sponsored health plans.
• Transparency in Coverage: The department will examine ways it can improve market transparency in pricing and cost-sharing information for consumers.
• Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Retirement Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights: The department will consider the extent to which fiduciaries may prioritize environmental, social, and governance factors in investment decisions.
• Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings: The department is continuing to examine how to establish standards specifically related to heat-related injury and illness prevention.
• Joint Employer Status under the Fair Labor Standards Act: The department will look at the circumstances under which a business can be held liable as a joint employer.
• Employee or Independent Contractor Classification under the FLSA: The department will examine the circumstances under which a worker should be classified as an employee or independent contractor for the purpose of federal wage and hour requirements.
• Defining and Delimiting Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees: The department will determine whether certain salaried employees are exempt from FLSA minimum wage and overtime requirements.
• Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the U.S.: The department will consider updates to the methodology used to calculate the prevailing wage for H-2A workers.
• H-2A Temporary Agricultural Employment of Foreign Workers in Nonimmigrant Status: The department proposes to rescind certain burdensome requirements adopted under the Biden administration, many of which are currently enjoined as unlawful, for growers using the H-2A program for agricultural labor.

View the complete semiannual agenda.