WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced current Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration Molly Conway has been named Chief of Staff effective June 1, 2019.

Conway joined the Department in February 2017 and served as Deputy Chief of Staff since May 2017.  Before joining the Department, Conway served as Labor and Pensions Counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and as a Professional Staff Member for the House Education and the Workforce Committee.

The Department also announced - effective June 1, 2019 - that Alison Kilmartin will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff. Kilmartin is currently Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy.

Before joining the Department of Labor, Kilmartin was a Senior Career Associate in the Supreme Court and Appellate practice group at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliff and an Associate in Business and Tort Litigation at Jones Day. Kilmartin joined the Department in August 2018. 

"Molly Conway is a trusted senior policy advisor in all Department matters and has been since my confirmation. Alison Kilmartin has helped move forward the Department's aggressive deregulatory agenda for America's job creators and job seekers," U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta said. "Both Molly Conway and Ali Kilmartin bring records of accomplishment and together will make a positive impact for good, safe, family-sustaining career opportunities for America's workforce."

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Department of Labor today was joined by the White House's Office of Science and Technology, the Chief Information Officer Council, and seven federal departments at the Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. for the 2019 DOL Tech Day, which highlights emerging technology used by the federal government.

The event included remarks from U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella, Office of Personnel Management Acting Director Margaret Weichert, Federal Chief Information Officer at the Office of Management and Budget Suzette Kent, and U.S. Senator Ron Johnson.

"In America, technology has driven us to do great things," said Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "We use our advancement as markers for generations."

Technology on display included Olli, a 3D printed autonomous vehicle that promotes the employment of workers with disabilities, virtual reality exhibits, and a reimagined workplace of the future.

In addition to 23 agencies from the Department of Labor, DOL Tech Day included displays from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Energy, Defense, Health and Human Services and Transportation, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and General Services Administration.

WASHINGTON, DC  - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the upcoming resignation of Chief of Staff Nicholas Geale effective May 31, 2019.

"I want to thank the dedicated and professional staff of the Department of Labor for helping to do so much good work for our nation," said Geale. "I am very excited to spend time with my new family and take on the next challenges of our journey."

"In many positions at the Department of Labor, on Capitol Hill, and as a member of the National Mediation Board, Nicholas Geale is a national expert on labor issues," U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta stated.  "After years of hard work here at the Department, I wish him the best on his future endeavors." 

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the April 2019 Employment Situation report:

“Today’s jobs report announced a 3.6% unemployment rate, the lowest unemployment rate since 1969. 

“America’s economy added 263,000 jobs in April and a net 16,000 additional upward adjustment in February and March. This brings the total to 5.4 million jobs added since January 2017.  

“America’s workforce continues to see their paychecks grow, with year-over-year wage growth reaching 3.2%. The year-over-year average hourly earnings have grown at or exceeded 3.0% for nine straight months. Wage growth has not risen this fast since 2009.

“For 14 consecutive months, the unemployment rate has remained at or below 4.0% and this month included widespread good news: the unemployment rate reached record lows for Hispanic-Americans, Americans with disabilities, and Gulf War II veterans, and matched record lows for Asian Americans and all veterans. 

“Both adult men and adult women saw declines in their unemployment rate with adult men at 3.4% and adult women at 3.1%, which was the lowest rate for adult women since 1953.

“We continue our work toward increasing labor force participation and this month’s report further underscores the importance of the administration’s efforts expanding skills training so that more Americans can find family-sustaining career opportunities.”

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Cheryl Marie Stanton was sworn-in as the Administrator of the Department's Wage and Hour Division.

"I welcome and congratulate Cheryl Stanton as she officially assumes the position of Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "Cheryl brings with her a distinguished career including prior public service as Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce."

The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to Federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

Stanton was nominated by President Trump on September 2, 2017, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 10, 2019.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Women's Bureau Director Patricia G. Greene will be returning to the private sector effective April 26, 2019.

"For a year and a half as Director of the Women's Bureau, Dr. Patti Greene has led the Women's Bureau mission to support America's working women, and ensure that they have access to good, family-sustaining jobs," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "We are grateful for her service, and wish her success in her future endeavors."

President Trump appointed Dr. Greene as Director of the Women's Bureau on October 31, 2017.

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that Judith S. Boggs has been assigned to chair the Department's Benefits Review Board. Boggs assignment comes upon the departure of Betty Jean Hall, who retired as board chair on March 31, 2019. Prior to this appointment, Boggs served as a member of the Benefits Review Board (BRB) since 2004, and on the Administrative Review Board from 2002 to 2004.

"I commend Betty Jean Hall for her 25 years of service at the BRB, 10 of which she served as board chair. This is testament to Ms. Hall's commitment to doing right by workers and taxpayers," said Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. "The work of the board is in good hands as Judith S. Boggs brings 15 years of experience as a board member to the board chair position."

Congress created the Benefits Review Board in 1972 to review and issue decisions on appeals of worker's compensation claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Worker's Compensation Act and the Black Lung Benefits amendments to the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. The Board consists of five members appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor, one of whom is designated as chair and Chief Administrative Appeals Judge.

The Department will recruit a new member to fill the vacancy created by Hall's retirement.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today issued the following statement regarding the March 2019 Employment Situation report:

"The March jobs report exceeded expectations with 196,000 new jobs created. Adding upward revisions of 14,000 jobs from the past two months, means that more than 5.1 million jobs have been created since January 2017.

"The unemployment rate held steady at 3.8%, marking the thirteenth straight month the unemployment rate was at or below 4.0%. In particular, the 3.3% unemployment rate for adult women matched the low since 1953.

"American workers are increasing their productivity, and paychecks are rising. Year-over-year wage growth was 3.2%. For eight straight months, year-over-year average hourly earnings growth eclipsed 3.0%.

"With healthy job growth, rising wages, and low unemployment, we continue to work to increase labor force participation to fill high levels of open jobs."

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a new pilot program for discretionary suspensions and debarments to ensure accountability and protect the federal government from doing business with those who engage in inappropriate or illegal conduct.

Discretionary suspensions and debarments make individuals or organizations ineligible for federal contracting and transactions with the federal government typically for up to 12 months for a suspension and up to three years for a debarment.

The pilot program’s goal is to reduce the processing time on discretionary suspension and debarment actions from months to days through increased efficiency and sharing of information based on indictments or convictions. The pilot program involves the Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) including additional information in its referrals to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) that will allow decisions to be made faster than ever before.

This pilot program builds on recent steps taken by the Department to enhance its discretionary suspension and debarment efforts in the last few years, including increased coordination and collaboration with the OIG. Under these efforts, discretionary suspensions increased from a total of two during the seven years of Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 through FY2016 to 29 during FY2017-FY2018. Discretionary debarments spiked from one during FY2010-FY2016 to 32 during FY2017-FY2018. In FY2018, the OIG referred a record number of 156 individuals and organizations to OASAM for review. In just the first quarter of FY2019, the Department has issued 32 discretionary suspensions and five discretionary debarments. The pilot program preserves the due process and fairness protections for the entities involved.

“Launching this pilot program will help to protect resources from fraud, waste, and abuse - faster than ever before,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “Taxpayer resources will be better protected by streamlining the process and improving the use of information from indictments and convictions that result from the work of the Office of Inspector General. Given the Department of Labor’s commitment and duty to be a good steward of taxpayer resources, this pilot program is a clear reminder that the Department requires those conducting business with the federal government to be responsible and act with honesty and integrity.”

The pilot program will be in effect from April 2019 to April 2020. 

The pilot program does not affect mandatory suspensions and debarments that are set by law and result in an automatic removal from being able to participate in transactions.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta today was joined by Americans from around the nation to discuss pathways for those exiting the justice system to reenter the workforce.

The event – Strengthening America's Workforce – included remarks from Secretary Acosta, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Patrick Pizzella, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., and Governor of Kentucky Matt Bevin. Additionally, the event held a panel focusing on the challenges faced by individuals attempting to reenter the workforce from the justice system as well as discussions regarding the current policy and grants landscape.

"The American economy has produced a million more job openings than those searching for work," Secretary Acosta said. "Today's event is a reminder that the successful transition into the workforce is a positive step for both individuals and communities."

Strengthening America's Workforce is part of the Department's ongoing efforts to reduce recidivism and fill open jobs. In FY 2017 and 2018, the Department has announced $170 million in reentry project grants for nonprofits, state and local governments, and Indian and Native American entities that design and implement workforce reentry programs.