Government Affairs

UPDATE – 10/13/2025

Government Shutdown Impacts OSHA & Federal Safety Programs [send.assp.org]
As of Oct. 1, 2025, the federal government entered a shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations. According to the DOL Contingency Plan, OSHA is expected to furlough over 1,200 of its employees. Only those performing tasks necessary to protect life and property remain on duty, leading to the suspension of most OSHA operations, including inspections, guidance issuance and non-statutory support activities.

Because of the funding lapse, OSHA’s Federal Register and regulatory webpages remain frozen; the site shows its last update [send.assp.org] was Oct. 1, 2025.

OSHA has indicated that only essential functions will continue (e.g. imminent danger responses, statutorily required enforcement), while support, outreach, training and many notice-and-comment rulemaking tasks may be delayed.

This pause could slow the momentum on rulemakings (heat, respirator updates, etc.) and reduce capacity to respond to emerging hazards or industry inquiries. Stay tuned for more information.

UPDATE – 08/25/2025

LEGISLATION UPDATE – OSHA Proposed Rules Comment Deadline Extension  

On August 20, 2025, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) extended the deadline for written comment on 20 of the 26 previously published notices of proposed rulemaking from September 2ed to November 1st, 2025.

Proposed Rules

1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane 1

1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane 1

1,3-Butadiene 2

13 Carcinogens (4-Nitrobiphenyl, etc.) 2

Acrylonitrile 2

Amending the Medical Evaluation Requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard for Certain Types of Respirators 2

Asbestos 2

Benzene 2

Cadmium 2

Coke Oven Emissions 2

Construction Illumination 2

Cotton Dust 2

Ethylene Oxide 2

Formaldehyde 2

House Falls in Marine Terminals 1

Inorganic Arsenic 2

Lead 2

Methylene Chloride 2

Methylenedianiline 2

Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings 2

Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements 1 

Occupational Safety and Health Standards:

Interpretation of the General Duty Clause: Limitation for Inherently Risky Professional Activities 2

Open Fires in Marine Terminals 1

Rescission of Coordinated Enforcement Regulations 1

Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards; Textiles; Sawmills; Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards for Shipyard Employment 1

Vinyl Chloride 2

Federal Register :: 2025 Federal Register Index :: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Federal Register :: Occupational Safety and Health Standards; Interpretation of the General Duty Clause: Limitation for Inherently Risky Professional Activities

Update: 4/11/2025

HHS Restructuring Leads to Major NIOSH Cuts
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is undergoing an extensive restructuring, which includes moving NIOSH under the newly formed Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). This shift will drastically reduce NIOSH’s workforce and raises concerns about the future of workplace safety research and evidence-based interventions that protect worker well-being. ASSP is calling on Congress to reverse the proposed cuts to NIOSH.  Read more