ADVOCACY & POLICY UPDATE - May 4, 2026

DOL Builds Out Leadership Team

Washington Update​

Appropriations

Congressional appropriators are developing FY27 funding proposals for federal agencies responsible for workplace oversight, including the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The Administration’s proposal includes reductions to DOL and NLRB while maintaining funding for the EEOC. House appropriators, however, have proposed a reduction for the EEOC, highlighting differences in funding approaches that may be addressed during the legislative process. 

Appropriations hearings are underway in both chambers, with testimony from agency leaders expected in the coming weeks. Hearings for DOL, the NLRB, and the EEOC have not yet occurred. Recent leadership changes at the DOL, including the transition to Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling, may be a focus of upcoming discussions.

The EEOC is funded through the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill, while DOL and the NLRB are funded through a separate bill that also includes the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, which is often subject to extended negotiations. The federal fiscal year ends September 30, and Congress may rely on short-term funding measures as budget discussions continue.

Secretary of Education Committee Hearings

On Tuesday, April 28, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on the President’s FY27 budget request for her agency. During the hearing, subcommittee members raised questions about interagency coordination with the Department of Labor (DOL), proposed changes to K–12 funding streams, and support for federal student aid programs.

On Wednesday, April 29, McMahon was scheduled to appear for a briefing with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee on the FY27 proposed education budget and agency priorities but did not attend. The closed-door roundtable between HELP Committee members and the secretary was cancelled after Senator Tim Kaine (VA) pressed for McMahon to appear publicly before the panel. The session was expected to address proposed structural changes within ED, including the redistribution of certain responsibilities to other federal agencies. Senator Kaine and HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (LA) publicly differed on the circumstances surrounding the cancellation and next steps for congressional oversight.

Click here to access a recording of Secretary McMahon’s Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.

Department of Labor

Acting DOL Secretary Keith Sonderling has completed his senior team as the agency moves beyond the tenure of Lori Chavez-December, with Courtney Walter serving as chief of staff. Walter worked at Labor in President Donald Trump’s first term, including at the solicitor’s office. Cynthia McKnight, who served as Sonderling’s chief of staff when he was deputy secretary, will be one of Walter’s deputies. She also worked for Sonderling during his tenure at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Garrett Buttrey will be the other deputy chief of staff. Buttrey was chief of staff and senior policy adviser at the Wage and Hour Division under Administrator Andrew Rogers. Prior to joining the administration, Buttrey worked as an aide on the Senate HELP Committee. Finally, Joseph Burgese is working as a senior adviser in the secretary’s office. He also worked in the Wage and Hour Division, as well as chief of staff for DOL’s Office of Public Liaison.

Meanwhile, last week the White House pulled Daniel Bonham’s nomination to lead DOL’s congressional affairs office. He had been going through the approval process under Chavez’s-DeRemer.

LIFT AI Act

On Tuesday, April 28, Senators Adam Schiff (CA) and Mike Rounds (SD) introduced the bipartisan legislation, Literacy in Future Technologies Artificial Intelligence (LIFT AI) Act, to increase AI literacy in schools and prepare students for workforce changes driven by emerging technologies. 

The bill would establish a grant program within the National Science Foundation to support the development of K-12 AI literacy curricula, evaluation tools, and research on effective teaching methods. It also includes funding for professional development to help educators and school leaders build AI knowledge and integrate it into classroom instruction.

Additional provisions support the creation of hands-on learning tools, incorporation of AI concepts into existing curricula, and development of methods to assess student proficiency. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives.

Click here to access the full press release.

Living Wage for All Act

On Tuesday, April 28, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL), along with a group of Democratic lawmakers, introduced the Living Wage for All Act to increase the federal minimum wage to $25 per hour.

The legislation would phase in the increase over time, requiring large employers — defined as those with at least 500 employees or $1 billion in annual revenue — to reach the $25 threshold by 2031, while smaller employers would have until 2038. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour, a rate established in 2009, although many states have enacted higher minimum wages. The bill also includes provisions to index the minimum wage to broader wage growth to help maintain its value over time. In addition, it would eliminate subminimum wages for tipped workers, youth workers, and workers with disabilities, establishing a single minimum wage standard across all worker groups. 

Click here to access the press release on the bill.

Apprenticeship Legislation

On Monday, April 27, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Bill Cassidy (LA) introduced two bills aimed at expanding apprenticeship opportunities - the Streamlining Timely Apprenticeship Registration and Transparency (START) Act and the Apprenticeship Data Value Improvements to Create Employment (ADVICE) Act. 

The START Act, introduced with Senator Jim Banks (IN), establishes timelines for state apprenticeship agencies to act on applications, requiring decisions on complete applications within 90 days and responses to incomplete submissions within 30 days. The bill includes enforcement mechanisms to encourage timely processing and increase accountability.

The ADVICE Act, introduced with Senator Tommy Tuberville (AL), focuses on strengthening data collection and analysis for apprenticeship programs. It enables states and program sponsors to track outcomes such as wages, retention, and completion rates, supporting evaluation and replication of effective models. 

In addition, Senator Cassidy requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office conduct a study on barriers to establishing a new apprenticeship program.

Click here to access the full press release on both bills and the letter from Senator Cassidy to the GAO.

Workforce Data Enhancement Act

On Monday, April 27, Senators Roger Marshall (KS) and John Hickenlooper (CO) reintroduced the bipartisan Workforce Data Enhancement Act, aimed at strengthening how workforce data is collected, shared, and analyzed across states. The legislation would make funding for the Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) permanent, providing consistent support to State Workforce Agencies and training providers to better measure program performance and long-term employment outcomes. 

It focuses on improving statewide longitudinal data systems that connect education, workforce training, and labor market outcomes. It promotes standardization, transparency around skill needs, and expanded use of data to inform decision-making by employers, educators, workers, and policymakers.

Click here to access the press release on the legislation.