The Biden Administration appears to be giving up on its attempt to overhaul the regulations governing registered apprenticeship programs.
The Labor Department published its proposed rule on January 17, 2024, and in June sent a draft of the final regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget for approval.
On November 27, 2024, OMB posted on its website that the draft final rule has been withdrawn. While neither DOL nor OMB has offered an official explanation for the final rule’s withdrawal from OMB review, the strong implication is that the Biden Administration would prefer to leave the current regulations on the books rather than promulgating a controversial overhaul shortly before the change in administrations.
DOL’s proposal would have significantly revised apprenticeship standards, enhanced requirements for registered programs, and regulated agreements entered into by apprentices, sponsors, and participating employers. The proposal would have required sponsors to devise a written plan for implementing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action obligations.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, can read more here.