Refocus ILAB investigations on foreign labor abuses harming U.S. workers

What has happened

1. Sep 6, 2026 Partially done

   ILAB now says the same thing in its own voice, on its own pages, which is a stronger record than a budget narrative — and its two statutory reports show the limit. Read 2026-09-06, the Bureau's Mission and Strategy page opens "The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) increases American job and wage growth by combating foreign labor abuse and unfair trade practices in global supply chains that undermine U.S. prosperity and security", its child-labor reports page is banded "Making Global Competition Fair for American Workers", and it has stood up three tools aimed at screening imports rather than at foreign capacity building — LaborShield, ImportWatch and SourcingStrong. Three of the Quote's four named categories appear: child labor and forced labor throughout, and "[s]upporting fair wages and safe working conditions worldwide" among its stated priorities. Workers' organizing rights do not, beyond a general reference to labor rights in trade agreements. Still `partial`, and now for a second reason as well: the two reports through which ILAB actually publishes its investigations have not been reissued inside the window. The List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor is still the edition of "September 5, 2024", and the Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor page still offers only the 2024 executive summary, full report and bibliography, although the Trade and Development Act of 2000 requires the Findings annually.

   • ILAB Mission and Strategy as observed 2026-09-06 — ILAB "increases American job and wage growth by combating foreign labor abuse and unfair trade practices in global supply chains"; priorities include "[s]upporting fair wages and safe working conditions worldwide". The page carries no date of its own, so it is dated at the observation and is approximate

     Primary Executive branch Sep 6, 2026

   • ILAB List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor as observed 2026-09-06 — "204 goods from 82 countries and areas, as of September 5, 2024"; not reissued inside the evidence window. The page carries no date of its own, so it is dated at the observation and is approximate

     Primary Executive branch Sep 6, 2026

   • ILAB Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor as observed 2026-09-06 — the page offers the 2024 executive summary, full report and bibliography and no later edition. The page carries no date of its own, so it is dated at the observation and is approximate

     Primary Executive branch Sep 6, 2026

2. Apr 3, 2026 Partially done

   The Bureau of International Labor Affairs has been reoriented. The FY2027 President's Budget describes ILAB as prioritizing "the interests of American workers in U.S. trade and international labor and employment policy, strengthening U.S. jobs and wages, by combating foreign labor abuses and unfair trade practices in global supply chains that undermine U.S prosperity and security", and records that the reorientation has already happened: "this Administration has put America first by re-focusing ILAB on strictly enforcing labor standards in trade agreements", with named grants for gender equity in Mexico, women's workplace participation in West Africa, migrant-worker assistance in Malaysia, social security access in Bangladesh and inclusive workplaces in Lesotho canceled. The Budget cuts ILAB by $46 million. Two of the Quote's three named targets are picked up — forced and child labor — and organizing rights and hazardous conditions are not.

   • Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2027 — Department of Labor chapter

     Primary Executive branch Apr 3, 2026

   • Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2027, Appendix — Department of Labor

     Primary Executive branch Apr 3, 2026