Divvying Up Stimulus Dollars Exposes DOL’s Virus Response Needs

The Covid-19 stimulus bill delivers $200 million to the U.S. Labor Department for worker protection, but doesn’t specify how nearly half of the funds must be spent, offering an early test of the Biden administration’s enforcement priorities.

A provision buried inside the $1.9 trillion recovery package, which President Joe Biden signed Thursday, states that the money is intended for five DOL subagencies “to carry out COVID–19 related worker protection activities,” and for the DOL’s Office of Inspector General, to conduct oversight.

However, aside from directing that $100 million go to the DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and that ...