U.S. labor cuts threaten worker safety as federal expertise vanishes
NEVADA, UNITED STATES — Sweeping cuts to the U.S. Department of Labor under the Trump administration are raising alarm among union leaders, who warn of catastrophic impacts on worker safety, civil rights enforcement, and economic stability.
Leaders from AFGE Local 2391, representing federal employees in the Pacific Region, describe the changes as an ideological assault on public service in an interview with hybrid work expert Gleb Tsipursky.
“What is wrong with this administration that they’ve made public servants the enemy?” asked Aliyah Levin, president of AFGE Local 2391.
Proposed workforce reductions could eliminate up to 90% of staff in key units like the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which ensures non-discrimination by federal contractors.
Loss of expertise threatens worker safety
The cuts are expected to drive out experienced employees, leaving critical gaps in oversight roles such as mine inspectors and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance officers.
“A new mine inspector will miss something, and a miner could get injured. An OSHA inspector may not be able to respond to emergencies,” warned Rob Sax, executive vice president of AFGE Local 2391.
Already, mine-related deaths are on the rise—a troubling indicator of what reduced staffing could mean for workplace safety. OSHA’s depleted inspection staff would take over 12,000 years to inspect every U.S. workplace at current levels.
Union leaders also highlighted risks to vulnerable workers, including those protected by child labor laws and H-2 visa regulations.
“You can’t enforce these laws properly without trained professionals,” said Omar Algeciras, vice president of AFGE Local 2391. “And without that enforcement, workers — many of whom are among the most vulnerable — will suffer.”
Economic stability at risk
Beyond worker safety, union leaders warn that degrading data integrity at agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) could destabilize economic planning.
“Trillions of dollars in decisions — from interest rates to pensions — depend on BLS data,” Sax explained. “If that data becomes politicized or less reliable, economic planning will unravel.”
Years of budget stagnation have already reduced real resources by an estimated 18%, limiting training for new hires and straining existing services. Further cuts could cross a tipping point, delivering less oversight and accountability at greater expense.
A call to action
AFGE Local 2391 is taking legal action against telework rollbacks and lobbying Congress to intervene. Levin emphasized the stakes: “This is the deconstruction of the American government… This is catastrophic.”
Union leaders remain committed to their constitutional oath and service to the American people but warn that the administration’s ideological approach jeopardizes both public safety and democracy itself.
“Our customer is the American people. We’re here to help those who file complaints. We don’t charge. We do it because it’s the right thing to do,” Algeciras said.
