It’s hard for anyone to get ahead when their employer is nickel-and-dimeing them at every turn, but so far in Trump’s second term, he’s made it clear that employers who exploit workers have nothing to fear from his administration.
The Trump administration has systematically undermined the independence of the agencies responsible for protecting workers, replacing the rule of law with its own political direction. The result is a system that incentivizes employers to break the law simply because they know they can get away with it.
When employers know no one is watching, they can steal wages, allow unsafe working conditions, and stifle organizing efforts. It hurts workers on the job, but it also makes it harder for families to increase their earning power so they can pay rent, cover groceries, and save for the future.
Trump’s agenda is making life more expensive and more precarious for working families who are already stretched thin:
- Trump fired a member of the National Labor Relations Board for “disfavoring the interests of employers,” and fought in court to stop Congress from reversing it.
- Trump’s reckless workplace ICE raids have workers living in fear, and businesses used to relying on immigrant customers have seen sales plummet.
- Trump appointed Project 2025 contributor Johnathan Berry as the solicitor of the Labor Department. Berry called for a lower federal minimum wage and for limiting overtime eligibility.
- Trump’s administration weakened workplace safety penalties, putting businesses’ bottom lines ahead of worker safety.
“Trump has spent his presidency rewriting the rules to protect his wealthy friends who exploit workers. He’s sent a clear signal over the last year that there are no consequences for violating workers’ rights,” American Bridge 21st Century Brandon Weathersby. “When a president fires someone for not favoring employers and hires someone who supports lowering the federal minimum wage, you send a message that you’re not on the side of workers. He is essentially inviting powerful corporations to break the law and pocket the difference, while working families get squeezed even harder and fall further behind. When the scales are this tilted, ordinary people cannot get ahead no matter how hard they work.”
Learn more about Trump’s policies to make life unaffordable for American families on Research-Books.com
Published: Apr 6, 2026 | Last Modified: Apr 7, 2026