The US Labor Department’s regulatory agenda has slowed to a standstill while the White House works to whip up enough support for Labor secretary nominee Julie Su.
Since Su started serving as acting secretary March 11 when Marty Walsh departed as DOL chief, the agency hasn’t finalized or proposed any new regulations—despite plans to wrap up a rule on independent contractor status, issue a proposal to update overtime pay protections, and several rules close to being released at the White House budget office.
“By freezing your regulatory agenda, you are in essence avoiding the embarrassment or the explanation of something you might do that is controversial and could have a negative impact on your nomination,” said Patrick Pizzella, a former deputy secretary of labor who led the agency as acting secretary during the Trump administration as it transitioned between former DOL heads Alexander Acosta and Eugene Scalia.
It’s also the first time since W. Willard Wirtz served as labor secretary in the 1960s that a deputy secretary was nominated to replace the leader of the agency, putting Su in the delicate position of having to work in the job she wants while going through the application process.
Nothing is preventing Su from signing off on a final regulation while serving as acting secretary, according to Pizzella and others.
“There’s absolutely no legal prohibition against advancing regulations as...
Tehran – Saba: The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the subversive actions taken by the rulers of Abu Dhabi against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Last night, Tasnim News Agency reported that the...