The Latest Breaking News from the Department of Labor

‘Your body fights to stay cool’: workers toil in record heat as federal rule frozen

Trump officials and Republicans are rolling back protections against heat-related illnesses and deaths

The Guardian - US · Sep 25

‘Do you have to be dead?’: US coalminers plead for benefits as black-lung disease cases surge

Trump says he digs coal – but pneumoconiosis cases are at a 50-year high, and sick miners are mired in benefit delays

The Guardian - US · Sep 20

Should you fear private market assets in your 401(k)? Georgetown Retirement Research says no

The Labor Department’s proposed safe harbor would give 401(k) fiduciaries clearer legal footing to evaluate private-market investments.

Fortune · Sep 18

Labor Department Amends Prohibited Transaction Exemption for AT&T Retirement Plans, Extending Coverage Through 2023

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) published a notice in the Federal Register on August 3, 2026, announcing an amendment to an existing prohibited transaction exemption involving AT&T Inc. and its affiliates, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

The Free Financial Advisor · Aug 3

H-1B visa: US updates list of employers barred from program; 4 companies named as willful violators

The US Department of Labor has updated its H-1B debarment list, naming four employers as willful violators of visa rules. The companies are temporarily barred from filing H-1B petitions and face additional compliance requirements and possible random investigations.

The Economic Times · Jul 28

6 Disability Insurance Definitions Workers Should Read Before Relying on Employer Coverage

Employer disability insurance can feel like a comforting safety net, but the fine print often hides the details that decide how much help arrives when a serious illness or injury interrupts a paycheck. Before counting on workplace coverage, workers should learn the key disability insurance definitions that shape eligibility, claims,…

The Free Financial Advisor · Jul 19

Labor Department submits revised ESG rule to White House

The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), part of the Department of Labor, submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on June 30, 2026. The proposed rule would restrict plan fiduciaries from prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) factors…

Ballotpedia · Jul 18

Wall Street wants to change 401(k) rules

It could put your retirement at risk.

Salon · Jul 9

Labor Department submits revised ESG rule to White House

In this week’s edition of Economy and Society:

Ballotpedia · Jul 8

White House Orders Labor and SEC to Make Private Equity and Real Estate Available in 401(k)s—What Fiduciaries Should Watch

According to the Investment Company Institute, Americans hold roughly $12 trillion in defined-contribution retirement plans, making even small changes to investment menus potentially significant for millions of workers.

The Free Financial Advisor · Jul 6