Trump Tries to Push through Final Regulations before Leaving Office

There are a significant number of pending federal regulatory rules that the Administration may try to issue before President Trump leaves office on January 20, 2021. Among the most important is the final rule to make it easier for employers to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees who are owed minimum wages and overtime pay.

Other rules awaiting final release are those promoting more transparent financial reporting from labor unions of their finances, particularly in light of the scandal at the United Auto Workers (see next article in this newsletter). Another proposed rule would eliminate a requirement for employers to hand over workers' personal email addresses, home telephone numbers, and cell phone numbers on a list of eligible voter information that must be provided to unions in advance of union representation elections. In all, there are as many as 88 significant final rules in the pipeline that agencies may attempt to finalize. 

It is interesting to note that the White House Office of Management and Budget reports that in fiscal 2020, agencies eliminated $198.6 billion in overall regulatory costs across the federal government and took 538 deregulatory actions, or a ratio of 5.5 rules cut for every new significant one added.

This is part of our January 2021 Newsletter.

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