The U.S. Department of Labor is experiencing a critical internal upheaval as nearly 2,700 employees, roughly 20% of its workforce, have departed in a wave of retirements, buyouts, and resignations. The sharp reduction comes amid a directive from the Trump administration that mandates major restructuring across federal agencies, including proposals for downsizing and realignment of services.
Staff say they were pressured by internal memos warning of possible “reductions in force,” prompting many to leave preemptively. As a result, essential operations within the Department, including wage enforcement, workplace safety, civil rights compliance, and international labor protections, have been thrown into disarray.
The impact is not limited to domestic programs. Internationally, the Department has seen a devastating cut of $577 million in labor-related foreign initiatives. These reductions affect efforts to monitor forced labor, child labor, and unsafe working conditions in countries where U.S. businesses operate or import goods. Several officials have voiced concerns that this undercuts U.S. global competitiveness and ethical trade standards.
Making matters worse, the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, chaired by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, has executed cost-cutting measures that eliminated $455 million in departmental contracts, staffing, and field operations. This division was created to streamline government functions but is now being accused of undermining the Department’s core mission to protect workers and enforce labor laws.
Union leaders and policy experts argue that the administration is intentionally weakening federal oversight in labor-related matters. According to a senior official who requested anonymity, “We’ve seen a systematic effort to remove watchdogs and disempower agencies that safeguard workers’ rights.”
Former Labor Secretary Julie Su, who served under President Joe Biden, spoke out strongly, saying, “These actions amount to an assault on worker protections. At a time when labor rights are under pressure globally, gutting the very agency meant to enforce them is both reckless and dangerous.”
Inside the Department, morale is reported to be at an all-time low. Remaining staff are managing double or triple workloads, often performing roles for which they’re not trained or qualified. A senior field investigator shared, “We’re hanging on by a thread. There’s no way we can maintain the same level of oversight and enforcement with this level of attrition.”
Meanwhile, conservative policy think tanks such as The Heritage Foundation are pushing for even deeper cuts through initiatives like Project 2025, which includes proposals to eliminate entire divisions, defund union protections, and reclassify employees to weaken labor’s influence.
As the Department continues to hemorrhage personnel and resources, many fear the long-term consequences will include a rise in workplace violations, weakened enforcement of civil rights, and loss of international labor credibility.
The growing crisis raises a crucial question: Who protects the American worker when the protectors themselves are dismantled?
