WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor delivered a one-two punch for American workers this past week, announcing the recovery of more than $259 million in stolen wages for nearly 177,000 employees and unveiling a $14 million investment aimed at reviving the nation’s fading maritime workforce.
The Wage and Hour Division said it returned an average of $1,465 to each affected worker in fiscal year 2025, marking the strongest back-pay recovery year since 2019 and signaling a more aggressive federal posture on wage enforcement.
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, the Department is enforcing the laws fully and fairly to promote equal competition for all job creators while protecting the rights and earnings of American workers,” Wage and Hour Division Administrator Andrew Rogers said.
Beyond enforcement, the agency said it expanded compliance efforts to prevent future violations, rolling out an upgraded compliance assistance hub, new Fair Labor Standards Act videos, and a YouTube series focused on the Family and Medical Leave Act. The division also revived its opinion letter program and relaunched the Payroll Audit Independent Determination program, giving employers a path to self-report and resolve potential wage and overtime violations before they become lawsuits.
Workers and employers can seek guidance or report concerns through the division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).
At the same time, Labor officials announced nearly $14 million in new grants to rebuild America’s shipbuilding and maritime workforce, an industry the Trump administration views as central to national security and economic power.
Delaware County Community College in Pennsylvania received $8 million, while the Massachusetts Maritime Academy was awarded $5.8 million to develop internationally recognized, hands-on training programs designed to produce the next generation of American shipbuilders. The programs will be created in partnership with U.S. shipyards and global allies and will emphasize emerging technologies such as modular construction and icebreaker vessels.
“Restoring America’s maritime dominance can’t be accomplished without skilled American workers,” Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said. “These projects will help train our next generation of shipbuilders and ensure the skills critical to revitalizing our shipbuilding industry are developed here at home.”
The investments support President Trump’s executive orders on restoring maritime dominance and preparing Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs, as well as a broader push to reach 1 million registered apprenticeships nationwide.
The department said the maritime grants also align with growing Arctic and polar security concerns, citing a recent joint statement of intent between the United States, Canada and Finland to deepen cooperation on icebreaker development and maritime readiness.
The Labor Department’s announcements cap a busy start to 2026, as officials also pointed to strong economic data. In a statement on the December 2025 jobs report, Chavez-DeRemer said more than 650,000 jobs have been added since President Trump returned to office, with wage growth running at 4.1 percent over the past three months and inflation falling to its lowest level in nearly five years.
“GDP is booming, and all net job growth has continued to take place in the private sector among American-born workers,” she said. “The Department of Labor will continue our efforts to execute President Trump’s mission to put American Workers First in 2026.”
The department also reported legal victories aimed at curbing what it calls “regulation by litigation,” including the withdrawal of a Supreme Court petition in a high-profile 401(k) case against Home Depot and the filing of an amicus brief defending pension risk transfer practices as lawful and essential to preserving employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Taken together, Labor officials said, the wage recoveries, workforce investments and courtroom actions reflect a single strategy: tighten enforcement, expand opportunity, and clear the runway for what the administration describes as a manufacturing and middle-class revival.
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