WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor rolled out a sweeping series of actions this past week, directing tens of millions of dollars toward enforcing labor standards abroad, tightening oversight of retirement plans, strengthening worker safety on major infrastructure projects, and expanding employment support for homeless veterans.
In a move tied directly to U.S. trade enforcement, the department announced more than $23 million in funding to bolster labor law compliance in Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The Bureau of International Labor Affairs awarded $15.4 million to Partners of the Americas and $8 million to Creative Associates International to work with Mexico’s government, employers and workers to enforce labor protections in industries that compete with U.S. businesses. Officials said weak enforcement abroad can suppress wages, distort competition and give unfair advantages to bad actors at the expense of American workers.
On the same day, the department announced an additional $22 million aimed at combating labor exploitation in critical mineral supply chains overseas, particularly in Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Grants were awarded to Winrock International, the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, Pact and World Vision to address abusive labor practices in nickel, cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin and tungsten supply chains — materials essential to U.S. manufacturing, energy production and national security. The initiative aligns with President Donald J. Trump’s directive to expand American mineral production while reducing reliance on suppliers tied to labor abuse.
Domestically, the department’s enforcement arm continued to press employers over retirement security. A federal court ordered an Ohio-based civil engineering firm and its owner to pay $45,699.63 to employee 401(k) accounts after investigators found years of unremitted retirement contributions and mismanagement in violation of federal benefits law. The owner was also assessed civil penalties and removed as a plan fiduciary, underscoring the department’s message that misuse of employee retirement funds will not be tolerated.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also announced a new strategic partnership with the Methuen Obayashi Joint Venture to protect workers during construction of Manchester’s Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project. The initiative focuses on preventing hazards tied to confined spaces, pressurized zones, gas exposure and excavation risks, while promoting stronger safety management systems and subcontractor training.
At the policy level, the Employee Benefits Security Administration unveiled a major overhaul of its national enforcement priorities for fiscal year 2026. Investigators will now concentrate on areas including cybersecurity threats to benefit plans, barriers to mental health and substance use disorder coverage, protection of benefit distributions, retirement asset management, surprise medical billing and criminal abuse of contributory plans. EBSA officials said the shift is intended to target serious misconduct more effectively while reducing focus on minor technical violations.
The department also turned its attention to veterans, announcing the availability of $23 million in grants to support homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness through job training and employment services. Administered through the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program will offer grants of up to $500,000 per year over three years to organizations helping veterans overcome barriers to work. The program is part of a broader federal effort involving the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs.
To help prospective applicants, the department will host informational webinars for the veterans grant program. Registration links are available for a January 27 session at https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/157b7b8b-aead-4a18-8810-d366910e7dab@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration and a February 25 session at https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6e8a749a-425e-479d-b965-a92afe91e01f@e1f1c337-2599-4753-95d8-4853fb4b179c/registration.
Taken together, the announcements highlight an aggressive Labor Department posture at home and abroad, pairing trade enforcement and supply-chain scrutiny with expanded worker protections, tougher benefits oversight and targeted investments aimed at getting vulnerable veterans back into the workforce.
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