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🛠️Proposed Rule to Simplify Apprenticeship Discrimination Requirements

The Department of Labor (DOL or the Department) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to remove undue regulatory burdens on registered apprenticeship program sponsors. The Department's proposal would rescind certain regulatory provisions that it believes are unlawful. It also includes conforming, technical changes to the Department's regulation that addresses Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs. This proposed rule would streamline and simplify sponsors' obligations, while maintaining broad and effective nondiscrimination protections for apprentices and those seeking entry into apprenticeship programs. A brief summer of this document may be found at regulations.gov by searching by the RIN 1205- AC21.

🌾Proposed Rule to Rescind H-2A Labor Regulation Requirements

The Department of Labor (Department or DOL) is proposing to amend its regulations governing the certification of agricultural labor or services to be performed by temporary foreign workers in H-2A nonimmigrant status (H-2A workers) and enforcement of the contractual obligations applicable to employers of such nonimmigrant workers. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule) that would rescind provisions contained within a final rule published by the Department on April 29, 2024, which adopted a number of unnecessary, burdensome, and costly requirements on employers. Specifically, these provisions include, but are not limited to, substantial new requirements associated with the material terms and conditions offered by employers to H-2A workers that are not commonly provided to other U.S. workers, including progressive discipline policies for cause-based employment terminations, anti-retaliation measures for certain workers engaged in self-organization and other concerted activities, and expanding the authority and scope for a State Workforce Agency (SWA) to discontinue employment services to employers, which prevents those employers from accessing the H-2A program, while eliminating employers' option to request a hearing prior to the SWA's final determination. Further, the final rule imposed extensive highly-sensitive data collection requirements on employers related to their use of foreign labor recruiters, including personal names and physical addresses abroad, as well as detailed personal information associated with all owners of the employers, operators of the place(s) of employment, and supervisor(s) and manager(s) of workers employed under the terms of the work contract, with very limited or no practical utility to the agency's statutory decision making. A brief summary of this rulemaking can be found at www.regulations.gov by searching by the RIN: 1205-AC25.

❌Rescission of Nondiscrimination Provisions Under Workforce Investment Act

The U.S. Department of Labor (the Department) is rescinding its regulations implementing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) containing the nondiscrimination and equal-opportunity provisions of WIA. In 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which repealed WIA and required the Secretary of Labor to transition any authority under WIA to the system created by WIOA. Therefore, the Department is taking this action to remove regulations for a program that is no longer operative.

⚖️Proposed Rescission of WIOA Affirmative Outreach Requirements

The Department of Labor (Department), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Civil Rights Center (CRC), proposes to remove the regulations implementing the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) that contain affirmative outreach requirements for recipients of financial assistance under Title I of WIOA. WIOA does not authorize the Department to require affirmative outreach, therefore the Department is proposing to remove this requirement.

♿Proposed Revisions to Rehabilitation Act Affecting Federal Contractors

The U.S. Department of Labor proposes to revise its implementing regulations for Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. The proposed revisions will better align the regulations with recent case law and executive orders, including Executive Order 14173, "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity" and Executive Order 14219, "Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's `Department of Government Efficiency' Deregulatory Initiative."

📋Strengthening Probationary Periods in Federal Employment Regulations

As directed by Executive Order 14284, "Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service," issued on April 24, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is rescinding the regulations on probationary periods for initial appointments in the competitive service and making conforming amendments.

🏢Business Implications of Rescinding Affirmative Fair Housing Regulations

This proposed rule would rescind the Department's Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing regulations, which require a participant in an FHA insurance or Multifamily Housing rental assistance program to complete and submit a form supplied by HUD that describes its affirmative fair housing marketing plan.

🚧Elimination of Duplicative EEO Regulations by Federal Highway Administration

The FHWA is removing outdated and duplicative regulations requiring State highway agencies to submit to FHWA, on an annual basis, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program plans for FHWA approval. Currently, FHWA is responsible for oversight of State highway agencies' EEO programs, which include collection and analysis of internal employment data, development of an internal affirmative action hiring plan, and contractor compliance reporting. These regulations overlap with, and are duplicative of, other Federal requirements enforced by other Federal agencies. In addition, an Executive order (E.O.) issued by President Donald J. Trump repealed a previous E.O. that was relied on to initially promulgate the regulation. Elimination of these regulations will reduce administrative and monetary burdens on Federal- aid recipients.

📄FCC Request for Comments on Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

🏛️EEOC Sunshine Act Notice