WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has rescinded a Dec. 21, 2021, supplemental statement that discouraged fiduciaries from considering alternative assets in 401(k) retirement plan investment menus.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education today published a milestone report, America’s Talent Strategy: Equipping American Workers for the Golden Age, which presents a bold vision and concrete actions to transform the federal government’s approach to workforce development.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $30 million in funding in the Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant program to accelerate workforce innovation and address critical workforce needs across the country.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its Mine Safety and Health Administration is making $10.5 million in grant funding available to help provide mine safety training for the nation’s miners.

MSHA will award these grants as part of its fiscal year 2025 State Grants Program to fund the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners who work at surface, underground coal, and metal and nonmetal mines throughout the U.S.

KEARNY, NJ – The U.S. Department of Labor cited a commercial laundry company for alleged workplace safety hazards after an employee injury at its Kearny facility.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer last week completed a four-state swing through Idaho, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, as part of her America at Work listening tour where she met directly with manufacturers, miners, construction workers, business leaders, and local officials to discuss the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand workforce training and connect hardworking Americans with good-paying, in-demand jobs. 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling released the following statements today applauding President Trump’s latest Executive Order, “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.”

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has certified Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton as a “Star” employer in its Voluntary Protection Programs.

In the week ending August 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 226,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 218,000 to 219,000. The 4-week moving average was 220,750, a decrease of 500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 221,000 to 221,250.

DALLAS – A federal whistleblower investigation found that Union Pacific Railroad Co. violated the Federal Railroad Safety Act by terminating a railroad engineer after the employee reported and sought medical care for a work-related injury. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded an additional $4 million to help support continued disaster-relief jobs, as well as employment and training services for Kentucky residents suffering from the aftermath of severe storms over the past year. 

WASHINGTON – The United States today announced the successful resolution of the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) matter at the Superior Industries de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Superior Industries) facility, located in Chihuahua, Mexico.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued the following statement regarding the July 2025 Employment Situation Report:

MYRTLE BEACH, SC – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer continued her nationwide America at Work listening tour this week starting on the West Coast in Washington state to discuss artificial intelligence, before heading to the East Coast and stopping in South Carolina, where she spoke with business leaders and manufacturers in Florence, Georgetown, Hartsville, Mullins, and Myrtle Beach.

APPLETON, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited an Appleton paper products manufacturer for allegedly exposing employees to dangerous energy and machine guarding hazards after an employee suffered two finger-tip amputations. 

In the week ending July 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 218,000, an increase of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 221,000, a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 224,500.

JASPER, AL – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment in federal court against an Alabama poultry processor requiring them to pay $385,000 in civil money penalties for federal child labor law violations and barring the employer from any future child labor violations. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting public input on how to help smaller employers that want to offer retirement benefits choose a high-quality, low-cost option known as a pooled employer plan. 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1 million in grant funding to Arkansas for cleanup and recovery activities after severe storms caused extensive damage and flooding in April. 

Between April 2-22, 2025, a strong weather system struck Arkansas, bringing severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. The storm caused widespread devastation, destroying homes and businesses, displacing residents, causing utility outages, and disrupting critical public services throughout the state.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $1.8 million to the Technical College System of Georgia to support employment and training services for people affected by layoffs at Georgia-Pacific LLC. 

On May 14, 2025, Georgia-Pacific announced the permanent closure of their Cedar Springs containerboard processing mill, which will result in a mass layoff that is expected to begin Aug. 1, 2025. Georgia-Pacific estimates that 535 individuals will be impacted by the closure.