The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy is the principal policy, regulatory, data governance and evaluation office for the Department of Labor. OASP plays a crucial role in developing and advancing the department's priorities, providing advice to the Secretary of Labor, Deputy Secretary of Labor and department leadership on actions to improve the lives of workers, retirees and their families.
The four offices within OASP are:
Office of Regulatory and Programmatic Policy
The Office of Regulatory and Programmatic Policy holds responsibility within OASP for leading high priority regulatory initiatives through the Department and the Office of Management and Budget, including leading policy development, drafting and engaging agency economists and the Office of the Chief Economist in the development and defense of the economic analyses, and managing the Department's equities in the OMB interagency economic and policy review process.
Office of Compliance Initiatives
The Office of Compliance Initiatives promotes greater understanding of federal labor laws and regulations to prevent violations and protect Americans' wages, workplace safety and health, retirement security, and other rights and benefits. As part of its mission, OCI works with the department's agencies to enhance targeted outreach and communication strategies, and ensure their activities are effective.
The Chief Evaluation Office is an independent, department-level office located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, supporting the Department of Labor in developing and disseminating research about the department's programs, policies, operations, and activities. CEO sponsors rigorous evaluation, research and data analytics related to the programs, policies, and enforcement activities that the department oversee across the U.S. and internationally. CEO also collaborates with other federal agencies, on behalf of the department, to design and conduct evaluations of federal programs with labor-relevant outcomes.
The Office of Data Governance was established in 2020 to formally support the Data Board and lead efforts on the creation, implementation, and oversight of a data governance model that establishes authority, roles and responsibilities, management, and decision-making parameters related to the data created, collected, managed or otherwise controlled by the Department. The programs and work of this office bring a more central focus to the quality, consistency, documentation and availability of data, and the many ways in which it informs and influences how the department carries out its mission. ODG leads agencies towards more optimal and enterprise-focused approaches to data management, efforts to improve the quality, utility and comprehensibility of data, and coordinates activities to maximize the extent of open data, data sharing and use of enterprise data standards.
In addition, the Good Jobs Initiative sits within the immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary and provides critical information to workers, employers, and governments as they work to improve job quality and create access to good jobs free from discrimination and harassment for all working people (with emphasis on underserved communities, including BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, immigrants, veterans, individuals with disabilities, individuals in rural communities, individuals without a college degree, individuals with or recovering from a substance use disorder and justice-involved individuals).