WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2026) – In a new op-ed published in The Washington Reporter, Dylan Rosnick, NFIB Director of Federal Government Relations, urges the Trump Administration and Congress to reject the implementation of a one-size-fits-all federal heat standard, as proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2024. The proposed regulation would impose significant and unnecessary compliance burdens on Main Street businesses, ultimately disrupting production and leading to higher operating costs.

Rosnick writes:

“Establishing any federal heat standard, regardless of how ‘flexible’ it might be, can in no way be construed as limiting bureaucracy or reducing compliance costs. These new mandates would introduce unprecedented regulatory requirements in the 42 states that lack their own heat standard. Moreover, there is significant concern that a federal heat standard will be rewritten and made more burdensome by a future Administration. The Trump Administration should not open Pandora’s Box.”

“NFIB hears feedback from small business owners every day that if a federal heat standard is implemented, they would be forced to hire additional staff and increase prices to account for these new compliance costs. Others have shared how these mandates could force them to close their doors during warmer months. Dramatically increasing government involvement in everyday operations only serves as a recipe for stagnant job growth and reversal of the confidence owners are feeling due to last year’s tax certainty and regulatory relief.”

[…]

“Instead of creating new hurdles, Congress and the Administration should continue to foster an environment that unleashes the small business economic engine to create more jobs, invest in their employees, and give back to their communities.”

Read the full op-ed here.

In April, NFIB released an issue brief highlighting the burdens of a federal heat standard regulation. NFIB is urging the Trump Administration to withdraw OSHA’s previously proposed heat regulation and stop all efforts to establish a federal heat standard. NFIB is also urging Congress to enact the Heat Workforce Standards Act, which would prevent the proposed heat standard from being finalized and prevent a future administration from pursuing a similar regulation.

###