The US Labor Department can now skip public comment on new rules

The US Labor Department has ended its policy of always asking for public comment on new rules. It will now only do so when the law explicitly requires it. This means the department can make some new rules faster, without public input.

For decades, the US Labor Department chose to seek public comment on all new rules, even when not legally required. This gave the public and affected industries a chance to weigh in, slowing down the rulemaking process. This change means the department can now bypass that step for certain rules, potentially speeding up how quickly new labor policies take effect.