# Department of Labor 

[Back to Downsizing Government](/downsizing-government) 

##### Blog Posts 

##### [What Are the Rules for Acting Cabinet Members?](/blog/what-are-rules-acting-cabinet-members) 

By [Thomas A. Berry](https://www.cato.org/people/thomas-berry) 

##### [A Jobs Guaranteed Economic Disaster](/blog/jobs-guaranteed-economic-disaster) 

By [Ryan Bourne](https://www.cato.org/people/ryan-bourne) 

##### [Negative Effects of Minimum Wages](/blog/negative-effects-minimum-wage) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

### [Timeline: Department of Labor](/downsizing-government-essay/department-labor-timeline)

Explore a historical timeline of U.S. labor policy, featuring landmark laws, regulatory milestones, workforce programs, and the evolution of federal labor standards.

[View Timeline](/downsizing-government-essay/department-labor-timeline) 

##### Department of Labor Spending 

[![Dept. of Labor Static Graph](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2025-10/LaborOutlays.png?itok=LP6Ch79y)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG011) 

This chart was generated using our [interactive charting tool](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG011), which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

#### Featured Content 

[![Department of Labor Building](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-05/dept-of-labor-building%20Cropped.jpg?itok=FzwvMrbE)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/failures-unemployment-insurance-system) 

Study 

### [Failures of the Unemployment Insurance System](/downsizing-government-essay/failures-unemployment-insurance-system) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and George C. Leef 

The UI system is costly to taxpayers and creates numerous economic distortions. Federal involvement should be ended and the states left free to design their own systems.

[![Electrician](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/electrician.jpg?itok=GqhAmpkK)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/employment-training-programs-ineffective-unneeded) 

Study 

### [Employment and Training Programs: Ineffective and Unneeded](/downsizing-government-essay/employment-training-programs-ineffective-unneeded) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) and Daniel J. Murphy 

These programs have never worked very well, are little used, and are little needed because private markets provide many options.

[![UAW Building](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-07/united-auto-workers-building%20Cropped.jpg?itok=iYAcyCdH)](https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/reforming-federal-laws-private-sector-labor-unions) 

Study 

### [Reforming Federal Laws on Private Sector Labor Unions](/policy-analysis/reforming-federal-laws-private-sector-labor-unions) 

By Charles W. Baird 

This study describes 1930s labor laws that are still on the books, and discusses why they should be repealed to allow greater freedom for workers and employers.

[![Maritime Energy Production and Trade](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-04/maritime-energy-production%20Cropped.jpg?itok=BWU84Gj5)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/trade-adjustment-assistance) 

Study 

### [Trade Adjustment Assistance](/downsizing-government-essay/trade-adjustment-assistance) 

By [Sallie James](https://www.cato.org/people/sallie-james) 

This program provides benefits for certain workers put out of their jobs by foreign trade, but it has no sound basis in economics.

[![Minimum wage](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2023-11/minimum-wage-cropped.jpg?itok=3f0bw8Wc)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/negative-effects-minimum-wage-laws) 

Study 

### [The Negative Effects of Minimum Wage Laws](/downsizing-government-essay/negative-effects-minimum-wage-laws) 

By Mark Wilson 

These laws are supposed to help workers, but the evidence suggests that they damage the economy and harm less-skilled workers.

[![Downsizing Government](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2025-05/Downsizing%20Gov.png?itok=4YAi4cGI)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

##### About 

The federal government is running huge budget deficits, spending too much, and heading toward a financial crisis. Without a change of direction in Washington, average working families will be faced with large tax increases and a lower standard of living. This project is designed to help policymakers and the public understand where federal spending goes and how to reform each government department. It describes the failings of agencies and identifies specific programs to cut. It also discusses the systematic reasons why government programs are often obsolete, mismanaged, or otherwise dysfunctional.

Please contact Chris Edwards at [cedwards@​cato.​org](mailto:cedwards@cato.org) with questions or comments.

[Information on the data sources for our charts.](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts?showAbout=true)