Repeal of Contractor 'Blacklisting' Rules Awaits Trump's Signature

Both houses of Congress -- the Senate by a single vote -- have agreed on a joint resolution to void President Obama's Executive Order 13673, dubbed the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Rules, which require federal contractors to routinely disclose any labor law or safety violations their companies experienced, thus earning the executive order the onerous nickname "blacklisting rules." President Trump is expected to sign the measure as soon as it reaches him. The Congressional action actually focuses on the implementing rules for the order issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council, which were already subject to an injunction by a district court in Texas. Before the Senate vote – 49-48, along party lines – the White House issued a statement saying the rules “would bog down Federal procurement with unnecessary and burdensome processes that would result in delays, and decreased competition for Federal government contracts.” When Trump signs the resolution, the regulations implementing the executive order will go bye-bye under terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), and the pending lawsuit in Texas will be moot.