Biden Administration Releases FY22 Budget Request

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President Biden released the federal government’s budget request for fiscal year 2022. The budget requests $5.7 trillion in spending in FY22, which is about $1.5 trillion less than FY21. During the past several years, covid relief increased federal spending.

Biden’s budget addresses several administration priorities such as the infrastructure, families, and a commitment to reinvest “in crucial public services, benefits, and protections.”

One of the agencies that will play a leading role in implementing the administration’s priorities is the U.S. Department of Labor. Labor’s budget request for FY22 is $14.2 billion, a $900 million increase over FY21. The U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for several initiatives such as enhancing economic pathways for workers and improving worker protections and equity.

One of the Labor bureaus of interest is the Wage and Hour Division (WHD), which enforces workforce protections such as the Davis-Bacon Act and Service Contract Act. The budget request calls for $327.5 million in FY22, a $32.5 million increase compared to FY21. The majority of the increase would add 175 FTE to restore enforcement staff.

The administration’s budget request is just a proposal and would require Congressional approval. However, the request signals the administration’s policy priorities.