Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, STATE AGENCY NEWS—Washington Attorney General launches new workers’ rights unit, (Nov 17, 2025)

By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.

“The current administration has defanged and defunded enforcement of wage laws, ended enforcement of the minimum wage for federal contractors, and cut 20% of DOL staff,” the announcement explains.

Late last week, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown announced that his office has created a “Workers Rights Unit” to lead the state’s efforts to uphold its worker protections and to address wage theft. The effort is an attempt to make up for gaps allegedly left by changes occurring within the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Defanged and defunded.” The announcement states:

“At the federal level, there has been a systematic dismantling of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and an abandonment of any pretense of protecting workers. The current administration has defanged and defunded enforcement of wage laws, ended enforcement of the minimum wage for federal contractors, and cut 20% of DOL staff. They are giving a green light to bad actors to exploit their workers, but Washington state will step up to fill the gap.”

Wage theft and other issues. The announcement explains that the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and the Seattle City Office of Labor Standards (OLS) play critical roles enforcing many labor standards and that the new Worker Rights Unit will collaborate with L&I and OLS with an emphasis on cases with low- and moderate-income workers. In particular, they will focus on wage theft issues. They will also collaborate with other divisions within the Attorney General’s office focusing on worker safety, the environment, and civil rights.

“Our office’s new Worker Rights Unit will be able to support the working people of our state, as they face increasing challenges to maintain quality jobs and an affordability crisis,” Brown said. “National studies show that employers steal as much as $50 billion a year from workers. This unit will fight to even the playing field for Washington workers and hold corporations accountable that exploit their workers.”

“Washington’s labor movement has fought hard to ensure our state’s laws protect all working people. But laws are only as good as their enforcement. Too often, bad bosses use their power to deny workers their rights,” said Washington State Labor Council President April Sims. “We’re heartened to see Attorney General Nick Brown stand up a unit dedicated to ensuring workers are paid the wage they’ve earned, are able to exercise their rights, and are respected on the job. The hardworking people of Washington deserve nothing less.”

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