OSHA Enforcement Trends and Capacity Under the Trump Administration
A comparative study reveals significant declines in OSHA inspections, staffing levels, and enforcement complexity during the Trump administration.
- By Bernard Fontaine
- Apr 01, 2026
Abstract
This study examines the performance of the U.S. OSHA during the Trump Administration (2017–2021) and, with preliminary data on the 2025 term, the preceding and succeeding administrations, focusing on enforcement activity, inspection rates, staffing levels and enforcement outcomes.
Using federal inspection data and independent analyses, we find that federal OSHA experienced reduced enforcement activity, lower staffing and fewer high-complexity inspections under the Trump Administration than during the Obama and Bush Administrations.
These trends were associated with rising workplace fatalities and diminished enforcement capacity in extant studies. We conclude with implications for regulatory policy and worker safety.
Introduction
OSHA, established in 1971, is the principal federal agency charged with ensuring safe and healthful working conditions through enforcement of standards, training, outreach and education. Presidential administrations influence OSHA’s activities through budget requests, regulatory priorities and staffing decisions.
Critics and advocates have debated how these influences affect worker protection. This research empirically evaluates federal OSHA performance across administrations—specifically the Trump Administration and comparators. No budgetary information was available regarding federal funding for the state enforcement and consultation programs.
In a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Assistant Secretary of Labor David Keeling, the senators were critical of the Department of Labor’s efforts since the Trump administration took office in January 2025. The letter was signed by Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Baldwin, Ron Wyden, Angela Alsobrooks and Alex Padilla.
The letter cites current statistics showing that federal OSHA inspections dropped by 20% in 2025 compared to the previous year (EHS Leaders, 2026). Critics of the administration’s current policy direction point to an ambitious deregulatory framework and proposed budget reductions. The primary concern cited is that rolling back specific OSHA-promulgated regulations may diminish the agency's capacity to ensure worker protections across high-risk industries.
Methods
We conducted a comparative policy analysis of federal OSHA enforcement data from published reports and secondary sources spanning the Bush (2001–2009), Obama (2009–2017), Trump (2017–2021 and early 2025) and Biden administrations. Key outcome measures include annual inspection counts, staffing levels, enforcement units and penalty collections, when available (Table 1). Data were sourced from the National Employment Law Project (NELP), AFL-CIO Death on the Job reports and related analyses.
Results
Under the initial Trump Administration, OSHA conducted approximately 32,610 federal inspections annually, significantly lower than under Bush or Obama (∼38,000) and the lowest three-year total on record in recent decades. Staff inspection capacity shrank to roughly 870 compliance officers by April 2019—the lowest since OSHA’s inception—while the number of workplaces under OSHA jurisdiction nearly doubled since the 1970s (National Employment Law Project, 2019; AFL-CIO, 2024; and ISHN, 2025).
Table 1. Federal OSHA Inspection Counts and Staffing Levels
Administration |
Average Annual OSHA Inspections |
OSHA CSHO Inspectors |
Source |
Bush (2001–2009) |
~38,482 |
~1,000+ |
NELP (2019) (National Employment Law Project) |
Obama (2009–2017) |
~38,092 |
~1,100–950 |
NELP (2019); CGFA (2022) (National Employment Law Project) |
Trump (2017–2019) |
~32,610 (first 3 years) |
~870 (2019) |
NELP (2019); BlueGreen Alliance (2024) (National Employment Law Project) |
Trump (2025) |
~24,929 (budget projection) |
~736 federal |
2025 Budget proposal & internal reports (ISHN) |
Biden (2021–2023) |
~34,249 (FY, 2023) |
~878 |
AFL-CIO (2024) (AFL-CIO) |
Inspection Complexity and Enforcement Weighting
Analyses show not only fewer inspections under Trump but also a reduction in complex, resource-intensive investigations (e.g., ergonomics, heat stress, chemical exposures) due both to staffing cuts and changes in OSHA’s federal enforcement weighting system introduced in 2019. Under the new system, shorter health and safety inspections received relatively greater weight than complex health investigations, masking declines in serious oversight (AFL-CIO, 2024).
Penalties and Enforcement Outcomes
Penalty and enforcement case data through Reuters-cited reports and enforcement trackers suggest a drop in penalties and cases closed relative to both prior administrations and early Biden period figures, with a reported 47-45% reduction in health and safety penalties and enforcement cases during early 2025 compared with prior norms (Documented, 2026).
Discussion
The Trump Administration’s OSHA record is marked by lower inspection rates, reduced staffing and weaker enforcement outcomes compared with those of the Obama and Bush administrations. While some advocates argue that reduced regulation is preferable for economic competitiveness, public health and occupational safety, literature consistently associates strong enforcement with reductions in workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
Lower capacity and fewer complex inspections reduce OSHA’s deterrent effect and may contribute to poorer safety outcomes over time. Budget proposals during Trump’s second term projected further reductions in OSHA resources, implying persistent capacity constraints beyond the initial term (ISHN, 2025).
Limitations
This analysis is constrained by the availability of publicly reported federal OSHA data and external reports. Differences in enforcement weighting systems and reporting standards complicate direct comparisons across administrations.
Conclusion
Empirical evidence indicates that the Trump Administration presided over a decline in federal OSHA enforcement activity and staffing relative to the Obama and Bush Administrations. Although some measures rebounded under subsequent leadership (Biden administration), capacity and enforcement remain below historical peaks, raising substantive questions about worker protection and regulatory efficacy.
References
- Amir Khafagy, Documented, One Year After Trump Vowed to Make America Great Again, Report Finds Workers Are Less Safe (Jan. 2026).
- National Employment Law Project. Workplace Safety & Health Enforcement Falls to Lowest Levels in Decades. (Dec. 2019).
- AFL-CIO. Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, (2024).
- Jay Kumar, EHS Leaders, Senators Demand Answers After OSHA Inspections Drop in 2025 (2026).
- BlueGreen Alliance. Then and Now: Worker Safety Under Trump and Biden. (2024).
- CGFA. 2022 OSHA Priorities in the Biden Administration. (2022).
- Additional penalty and enforcement data. Worker Protections in Freefall. (Good Jobs First, Dec. 2025).
- Budget and internal OSHA data analyses.
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