The Trump Administration’s plan for curbing federal spending includes reducing OSHA’s operational budget by about 8% for Fiscal Year 2026. The Labor Department’s $582.4 million budget proposal for OSHA seeks $50 million in savings, primarily through staff reductions. Last month, the Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, testified before the House Appropriations Committee that the budget reduction will modernize and streamline OSHA operations to focus on delivering economic prosperity for all workers. Critics argue that the cuts will jeopardize worker health and safety.

According to Chavez-DeRemer, the proposed FY2026 budget would not affect OSHA’s current level of enforcement, inspection, or investigation activity. Nationwide, OSHA conducted 34,625 inspections in 2023. In 2024, OSHA conducted 274 inspections of Florida workplaces. The implications for workplace health and safety remain subject to ongoing debate. However, it is reasonable to expect that existing and new proposals for workplace safety regulation will be stalled or cease entirely. Florida business and industry should stay informed with future developments at OSHA, since Florida does not administer a State-run workforce protection program and relies on the Federal OSHA program.