On May 2, the Trump Administration issued its budget proposal for federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The administration proposes a $582,381,000 budget for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which would be a 7.9% ($49,928,000) decrease from OSHA’s adopted 2025 budget of $632.3 million (the Biden Administration had proposed $655.5 million; I wrote about it HERE). The remainder of this note summarizes the Administration proposal.
How is the budget request framed?
The budget proposal asks for 1,587 fulltime-equivalent (FTE) OSHA employees, 223 fewer than the current 1,810. The budget discussion is grouped around the following topics:
- Safety and Health Standards – resources for reviewing, revising and adopting OSHA standards, and issuing guidance documents and web information – request $16 million and 48 FTE (decrease $5 million and 23 FTE). These will include deregulatory activities.
- Federal Enforcement – by OSHA (not delegated states) – request $219.3 million and 1,124 FTE (decrease $23.7 million and 168 FTE). OSHA expects 70-80% of inspections to be unprogrammed (after complaints or incidents).
- Whistleblower programs (covers 25 additional statutes) – request $25 million and 114 FTE (decrease $1 million, FTE level). In FY 2026, OSHA anticipates the completion of 2,574 cases (3,000 in FY 2025).
- State Programs (cooperation and funding of delegated “state plan” states) – request $115.20 million (decrease $1,473 million).
- Technical support (including training) – request $23.5 million and 74 FTE (decrease $2.5 million and 16 FTE).
- Federal Compliance Assistance - outreach and compliance assistance staff, especially to expand agency outreach to vulnerable workers – request $78.262 and 183 FTE (decrease $1.711 million with level FTE).
- State Compliance Assistance – request $60.476 million (decrease $800,000).
- Training Grants – for worker training targeted at high hazard industries and vulnerable employees (Susan Harwood training program) – eliminate (decrease $12,787 million).
- Safety and Health Statistics - agency IT including data security – request $34.5 million and 16 FTE (decrease $1 million and 16 FTE).
- Executive Direction – agency management – request $10.1 million and 28 FTE (unchanged).
Now What?
The new Trump Administration is proposing that OSHA will pursue government-wide policy priorities to reduce government regulation and enforcement, and the size of government. However, the proposed reductions to OSHA are much smaller than those for many agencies. With the Republicans’ narrow control of both houses of Congress, it is impossible to predict how closely OSHA adopted program (under a formal budget, or continuing budget resolution) will reflect these priorities.
Self-Assessment Checklist
Does the organization operate facilities subject to federal regulation by OSHA (as opposed to state agencies in delegated “state plan states” or to other specialized federal programs)?
Does the organization provide goods or services to OSHA (or to state agencies or training programs supported by OSHA funding) purchased under the agency’s budget authority?
Where Do I Go For More Information?
Information available via the Internet includes:
- Department of Labor
- FY 2026 Department of Labor Budget in Brief
- FY 2026 Congressional Budget Justification – Occupational Safety and Health Administration
About the Author
Jon Elliott is President of Touchstone Environmental and has been a major contributor to STP’s product range for over 30 years.
Mr. Elliott has a diverse educational background. In addition to his Juris Doctor (University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1981), he holds a Master of Public Policy (Goldman School of Public Policy [GSPP], UC Berkeley, 1980), and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Princeton University, 1977).
Mr. Elliott is active in professional and community organizations. In addition, he is a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the GSPP Alumni Association, and past member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California's Environmental Law Section (including past chair of its Legislative Committee).
You may contact Mr. Elliott directly at: tei@ix.netcom.com