President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department has sponsored legislation to provide more federal aid to communities during extreme heat.
But it’s unclear whether Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) will push for worker heat protections as a member of Trump’s Cabinet.
“If you were judging her on her past policy positions, you might be optimistic and think she may agree heat standards are vital to saving workers’ lives,” said Jordan Barab, who was deputy assistant secretary for Labor for occupational safety and health during the Obama administration. “But Cabinet members work for the president and follow his orders.”
The Labor Department proposed new standards in June that would require employers to provide workers with water and rest breaks during heat waves. The fate of those standards is now up to Trump.
