Department of Labor

Department of Labor
Agency name	Department of Labor
Formed	March 4, 1913
Preceding1	United States Department of Commerce and Labor
Jurisdiction	Federal government of the United States
Headquarters	Frances Perkins Building, Washington, D.C.
Employees	~17,450 (2023)
Budget	$14.6 billion (2023)
Chief1 name	Julie Su (Acting)
Chief1 position	United States Secretary of Labor
Website	dol.gov

Department of Labor. It is a cabinet-level department of the Federal government of the United States responsible for fostering, promoting, and developing the welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and retirees. The department administers and enforces a wide range of federal labor laws guaranteeing workers' rights to safe and healthful working conditions, a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, freedom from employment discrimination, and unemployment insurance. Its mission is carried out by numerous agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Wage and Hour Division.

History

The department was established on March 4, 1913, by President William Howard Taft after he signed legislation splitting the former United States Department of Commerce and Labor into two separate entities. Its creation was championed by decades of advocacy from the American Federation of Labor and other progressive movements. The first Secretary of Labor, William B. Wilson, was a former official of the United Mine Workers. Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Secretary Frances Perkins played a pivotal role in implementing key New Deal programs like the Social Security Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Its influence expanded significantly during the Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Economic Opportunity Act.

Organization

The department is headquartered in the Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C.. It is led by the United States Secretary of Labor, who is supported by the United States Deputy Secretary of Labor and several assistant secretaries. Major operating agencies include the Employment and Training Administration, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other significant components are the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Office of Labor-Management Standards, and the Veterans' Employment and Training Service. The department also maintains regional offices across the country.

Functions and responsibilities

Its primary functions are to ensure safe workplaces through the enforcement of standards by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It guarantees wage protections and overtime pay via the Wage and Hour Division's enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The department collects and publishes critical economic data through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including the Consumer Price Index and monthly unemployment figures. It administers unemployment insurance benefits and job training programs through the Employment and Training Administration. Additional responsibilities include protecting union members' rights, overseeing pension plans, and combating employment discrimination for federal contractors.

Key laws and regulations

The department enforces numerous landmark statutes. The Occupational Safety and Health Act authorizes workplace safety inspections and citations. The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes the federal minimum wage and rules for overtime. The Family and Medical Leave Act provides eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act sets standards for pension and health plans. Other critical laws include the Mine Safety and Health Act, the Davis–Bacon Act governing wages on federal contracts, the Walsh–Healey Public Contracts Act, and relevant sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Leadership and administration

Leadership is vested in the United States Secretary of Labor, a member of the Cabinet of the United States appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. Notable past secretaries include Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a U.S. cabinet, George P. Shultz under President Richard Nixon, and Robert Reich under President Bill Clinton. The current acting secretary is Julie Su, who succeeded Marty Walsh. The department's annual budget is determined by the United States Congress through the appropriations process overseen by committees like the United States House Committee on Appropriations.

Impact and controversies

The department has profoundly shaped the American workplace, credited with reducing industrial accidents, establishing wage floors, and expanding economic data. Its agencies, particularly the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, have been frequent targets of criticism from business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for perceived regulatory overreach. Enforcement priorities often shift between administrations, such as under President Donald Trump's emphasis on deregulation versus President Joe Biden's focus on worker protections. Major historical controversies include its role during the Cold War in monitoring unions for alleged communist influence and ongoing debates over the adequacy of the federal minimum wage.

Category:United States Department of Labor Category:1913 establishments in the United States Category:Government agencies established in 1913