The Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy is highlighting to the Justice Department (DOJ) worker protection laws in Washington state and Oregon that it says “impose significant burdens on small businesses” and should be preempted as part of a broader Trump administration effort to target such laws.
November 15, 2026
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is raising concerns that OSHA’s plan to modify several substance-specific respirator standards could cause unnecessary confusion for employers because EPA has referenced at least one of the standards in its chemical risk management rules and is urging the two agencies to ensure they coordinate.
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Construction-sector groups and occupational health experts are providing a mixed reaction to OSHA’s proposal to remove medical evaluation requirements from its respirator standard, with even some groups who support modifying the standard arguing that total elimination goes too far because such screenings are best practice.
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Labor unions and other worker advocates are opposing OSHA’s proposal to remove some medical evaluation requirements in its respiratory protection rule, arguing the proposal is based on flawed reasoning and a lack of understanding of respirator use that is contrary to the law and will result in harm to workers.
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Labor unions are opposing OSHA’s plan to eliminate the COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS), pointing to the continued need for data transparency, although various unions differ on whether the agency should address their concerns through a permanent COVID-19 standard or a broader infectious disease standard.
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A recent policy memorandum from the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) aimed at speeding deregulatory efforts is likely to also affect the way OSHA approaches new regulations it deems necessary, with the agency prioritizing rules rooted in clear statutory text, one legal expert says.
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A coalition of 14 states led by Pennsylvania and Illinois is outlining a series of legal arguments against OSHA’s proposal to narrow the agency’s interpretation of the General Duty Clause, raising concerns about the increased burden for states while echoing statutory and case law arguments raised by unions and occupational health experts.
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A Michigan Senate panel is weighing legislation that would bring the state’s OSHA penalties in line with federal requirements, seeking to head off the potential loss of state protections for public-sector employees and other state benefits if OSHA were to revoke the approval of Michigan’s program.
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A conservative regulatory reform group is strongly supporting OSHA’s proposal to narrow its interpretation of the General Duty Clause, saying the change “will restore regulatory clarity, align enforcement with statutory and constitutional limits, reduce burdens on small business, and reinforce respect for professional autonomy and risk management.”
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North Carolina’s Republican labor commissioner is urging Senate Democrats to end the ongoing federal government shutdown, warning that unless OSHA grants to states are restored, North Carolina will be forced to furlough safety inspectors, putting the state’s workers at risk.
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