Former and current employees warn of cybersecurity risks and reduced protections for Americans as Secretary of Labor enforces the Trump Administration’s budget cuts.
May 23, 2025
Washington, DC
[05/23/2025, 9:06 PM: This article was updated with additional information obtained from protesters who were present at the rally]
[5/24/2025, 11:57 AM: This article was amended to clarify that some of the onlookers from the DOL rooftop were friendly supporters of the protesters, based on additional information from a protester present at the event.]
Half a dozen current and former Department of Labor (DOL) employees gathered outside the agency’s headquarters Friday morning to protest staffing and budget cuts that they say are jeopardizing the department’s ability to safeguard American workers.
The protest was timed to coincide with a scheduled press conference by Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who has supported the Trump administration’s push for sweeping reductions across federal agencies. Demonstrators had expected the press conference to take place outside on the grounds of the Perkins Building but found upon arrival that it had been moved—without notice—to the building’s rooftop.
As the protesters gathered, several people could be seen watching from the Perkins rooftop. According to one protester, some of those onlookers were supportive of the demonstration.
Protesters speculated that DOL discovered their intent to protest the press conference and decided to move the event inside and change the time to avoid the protesters. This appeared to be confirmed by a DOL employee who came out to greet the protesters and speak briefly with them.
A protester who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to employment concerns said they believed the press event could be connected to the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the comprehensive budget bill recently passed by the House that includes overhauls to taxes and changes to Affordable Care Act eligibility, amongst other items.
Today the Department of Labor announced five political appointees for the Wage and Hour Division, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with labor standards. It is unclear if this release is related to the press conference that occurred this morning, and reporters were unable to reach the Department’s Public Affairs office prior to publication to confirm this.
Earlier this month, Chavez-DeRemer praised the Big Beautiful Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling it “the most pro-worker piece of legislation in years.”
A Press Conference—Out of Public View
In April, Chavez-DeRemer announced efforts to reduce the DOL workforce, and claimed that she sought “to provide as many options and as much information as possible to enable informed decision-making regarding your career and your future,” according to an email Bloomberg Law said it obtained.
But a protester dismissed Chavez-DeRemer as disingenuous. “She doesn’t want to speak to workers,” they said.
Some protesters attempted to enter the Perkins building, which is a public building with federally funded amenities for the public. According to another protester who spoke on the condition of anonymity as a former DOL staff member, they were “harassed by armed guards to leave.”
“We offered to have security escort us to each of these amenities as needed, but instead they blocked us from leaving the lobby, even if current employees signed … for us to venture further into the building.”
The protester also stated that their union later reached out to building security, and security personnel confirmed these amenities are open to public access, contradicting what they had earlier experienced with guards.
“For standing on the sidewalk, we ended up being closely monitored by security upon entering the building[.] … Importantly, we were not trespassing.”
“The deep fortification of the Frances Perkins building began upon the confirmation of senior officials in February 2025,” says the former DOL employee. “The feeling of constant surveillance is pervasive even in conversations with current employees, who worry that using banned words—like diversity, equity, [or] inclusion—in casual conversation might draw too much attention.”
Staff Feel Strain of Budget Cuts
On May 6, DOGE claimed on X that they cut $13.6 million “in wasteful DEI grants” at the DOL, although this cannot be independently verified and DOGE’s claims of savings have faced substantial scrutiny.
Secretary Chavez-DeRemer reposted the claim on her own account, praising DOGE’s work to cut DEI programs at DOL and labeling them “wasteful spending.”
These cuts are part of a broader reduction already underway at the DOL. According to Bloomberg Law, the Department of Labor has seen layoffs across at least six internal divisions since February.
Now, the White House is advancing a proposed FY2026 “skinny budget” that would slash the department’s funding by another $4.6 billion—a 35% cut, which Chavez-DeRemer has publicly supported.
On May 15, Rep. DeLauro (D-CT-03) criticized Secretary Chavez-DeRemer, accusing her of attempting to “suffocate [her] own Department.”
“[The budget cuts] are not something to celebrate,” commented another protester. “They have cut training to staff and enforcement [of labor protections]. … American workers are the ones who will be hurt.”
The protester indicated the reductions weaken the department’s ability to protect workers and ensure safe and fair labor practices nationwide.
Contractors Sound Alarm Over Cybersecurity Risks
Among those protesting was a longtime cybersecurity contractor who said he lost his job at DOL last month after two decades working there.
The former contractor said that his team was notified at the end of March that contract negotiations would result in a 70% decline to their team in April. In April, the contractor was placed on unpaid leave and by April 17 had lost his job. “The team was reduced from 12 people to three.”
The contractor said he worked on securing DOL websites, such as dol.gov, and warned that those websites routinely face active cyber threats. He added that while his team was a mix of IT and cybersecurity, another team devoted entirely to cybersecurity faced similar reductions, indicating concern over long term impacts to the Department’s cybersecurity programs. Regarding this second team, he said: “They were cut from 12 people to only four.”
Riley Harty is an independent, freelance photojournalist covering national politics and social activism in DC.