{
    "schema": "amendsignal.record/1",
    "generated_on": "2026-11-04",
    "publisher": {
        "name": "AmendSignal",
        "url": "https://amendsignal.com/"
    },
    "notice": "Coverage is limited, so a missing record does not mean nothing changed. General information, not legal advice. Check the official source. Please cite the record's url.",
    "change": {
        "id": 22,
        "url": "https://amendsignal.com/changes/department-of-labor-makes-no-inflation-adjustment-to-its-civil-penalties-for-2026/",
        "title": "Department of Labor cancels its 2026 inflation adjustment to civil penalties",
        "change_type": "final_rule",
        "change_type_label": "Final rule",
        "status": "effective",
        "status_label": "In effect",
        "status_statement": "As of our last check on November 3, 2026, this is in effect, since May 27, 2026.",
        "significance": "No new requirements",
        "jurisdiction": {
            "code": "US",
            "name": "United States"
        },
        "authority": {
            "name": "Wage and Hour Division",
            "short_name": "WHD"
        },
        "identifiers": [
            {
                "type": "fr_document_number",
                "label": "FR document",
                "value": "2026-10456"
            },
            {
                "type": "fr_citation",
                "label": "Citation",
                "value": "91 FR 31358"
            },
            {
                "type": "rin",
                "label": "RIN",
                "value": "1290-AA46"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "20 CFR 655"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "20 CFR 702"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "20 CFR 725"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "20 CFR 726"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 5"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 500"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 501"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 503"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 530"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 570"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 578"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 579"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 801"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 810"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 825"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "29 CFR 1903"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "30 CFR 100"
            },
            {
                "type": "cfr_citation",
                "label": "CFR",
                "value": "41 CFR 50"
            }
        ],
        "dates": [
            {
                "type": "publication",
                "label": "Published",
                "value": "2026-05-27",
                "precision": "day"
            },
            {
                "type": "effective",
                "label": "Effective",
                "value": "2026-05-27",
                "precision": "day"
            }
        ],
        "in_short": {
            "what_changed": "The Department of Labor will not raise its civil penalty amounts for inflation in 2026. The law ties the yearly adjustment to October consumer price data, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics could not produce the October 2025 data during the lapse in funding.",
            "whos_affected": "Employers that could face civil penalties from Department of Labor agencies, such as the Wage and Hour Division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.",
            "what_to_do": "This rule creates no new duties for employers. Penalty amounts stay where they were, so the only update is to any internal materials that assumed a 2026 increase."
        },
        "summary": "The Department of Labor will not adjust its civil monetary penalties for inflation in 2026. The yearly adjustment must be based on October Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers data, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not produce the October 2025 figures because of a lapse in funding. The rule creates no new requirements for employers, and the Department plans a review of its civil penalties in 2027.",
        "business_functions": {
            "state": "limited",
            "functions": [
                {
                    "slug": "payroll",
                    "name": "Payroll"
                },
                {
                    "slug": "benefits",
                    "name": "Benefits"
                },
                {
                    "slug": "workplace-safety",
                    "name": "Workplace safety"
                },
                {
                    "slug": "legal-and-compliance",
                    "name": "Legal and compliance"
                }
            ]
        },
        "added_on": "2026-11-03",
        "updated_on": null,
        "updates_in_progress": null,
        "last_checked": "2026-11-03",
        "record_url": "https://amendsignal.com/changes/department-of-labor-makes-no-inflation-adjustment-to-its-civil-penalties-for-2026/record.json",
        "what_changed": [
            {
                "kind": "fact",
                "kind_label": "From the source",
                "text": "The Department of Labor is making no inflation adjustment to its civil monetary penalties for 2026. The 2026 adjustment is cancelled entirely.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "SUMMARY",
                        "excerpt": "the 2026 adjustment is cancelled entirely"
                    },
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "the Department of Labor is not making any adjustments to civil money penalties under the Inflation Adjustment Act in 2026."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "kind": "fact",
                "kind_label": "From the source",
                "text": "The law bases the yearly adjustment on October consumer price data from the prior year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics could not produce the October 2025 data, and the law allows no other way to calculate the amounts.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "BLS was unable to produce the October 2025 data. The statute does not allow for an alternative method of calculating civil penalty amounts."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "kind": "fact",
                "kind_label": "From the source",
                "text": "The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) told federal agencies to keep using the 2025 civil penalty amounts, as applicable.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "OMB instructed agencies to continue using the 2025 civil monetary penalties as applicable."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "kind": "fact",
                "kind_label": "From the source",
                "text": "In 2027, the Department will conduct a thorough review of the civil penalties its agencies administer.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "In 2027, the Department will undertake a thorough review of civil penalties administered by its various components pursuant to the Inflation Adjustment Act"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "who_is_affected": [
            {
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "text": "The rule touches any employer that could face a civil penalty from the Department agencies named in the rule, including the Wage and Hour Division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Employee Benefits Security Administration and the Mine Safety and Health Administration.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "AGENCY",
                        "excerpt": "Wage and Hour Division, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and Mine Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor."
                    },
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "I. Background",
                        "excerpt": "the initial catch-up adjustment for most civil penalties that the Department administers"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "business_implications": [
            {
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "text": "Civil penalty amounts from the Department of Labor stay at their 2025 levels for 2026 rather than rising with inflation, so an employer's penalty exposure does not grow this year.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "OMB instructed agencies to continue using the 2025 civil monetary penalties as applicable."
                    },
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "SUMMARY",
                        "excerpt": "the 2026 adjustment is cancelled entirely"
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "text": "The planned 2027 review could lead to changes in penalty amounts later, but the rule does not say what those changes would be.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "In 2027, the Department will undertake a thorough review of civil penalties administered by its various components pursuant to the Inflation Adjustment Act"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "required_actions": [],
        "recommended_actions": [
            {
                "kind": "recommendation",
                "kind_label": "Our suggestion",
                "text": "Consider checking that compliance training, risk assessments and budgets use the 2025 civil penalty amounts rather than an assumed 2026 increase.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "OMB instructed agencies to continue using the 2025 civil monetary penalties as applicable."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "kind": "recommendation",
                "kind_label": "Our suggestion",
                "text": "Consider watching for the Department's 2027 review of civil penalties, which may change penalty amounts.",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "In 2027, the Department will undertake a thorough review of civil penalties administered by its various components pursuant to the Inflation Adjustment Act"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "required_actions_assessment": {
            "state": "assessed",
            "text": "The rule creates no new requirements for employers. It only states that the Department of Labor will not adjust its civil penalty amounts for inflation in 2026."
        },
        "applicability": [
            {
                "criterion": "where",
                "label": "Where",
                "answer": "United States, nationwide",
                "kind": "fact",
                "kind_label": "From the source",
                "evidence": []
            },
            {
                "criterion": "employer_type",
                "label": "Employers",
                "answer": "Employers that could face civil penalties from the Department of Labor agencies named in the rule.",
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "AGENCY",
                        "excerpt": "Wage and Hour Division, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and Mine Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "criterion": "size",
                "label": "Size",
                "answer": "The rule sets no size threshold; it covers the civil penalties the Department administers.",
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "I. Background",
                        "excerpt": "the initial catch-up adjustment for most civil penalties that the Department administers"
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "criterion": "industries",
                "label": "Industries",
                "answer": "All industries, with mining touched through the Mine Safety and Health Administration's penalties.",
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "AGENCY",
                        "excerpt": "Mine Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "criterion": "functions",
                "label": "Functions",
                "answer": "Legal and compliance, workplace safety, payroll and benefits teams that track penalty exposure.",
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "AGENCY",
                        "excerpt": "Wage and Hour Division, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and Mine Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "criterion": "applies_if",
                "label": "Applies if",
                "answer": "It matters to you if your organization could be assessed a civil penalty by a Department of Labor agency.",
                "kind": "inference",
                "kind_label": "Our analysis",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "the Department of Labor is not making any adjustments to civil money penalties under the Inflation Adjustment Act in 2026."
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "criterion": "action",
                "label": "Action",
                "answer": "No action required; consider keeping penalty references at 2025 amounts.",
                "kind": "recommendation",
                "kind_label": "Our suggestion",
                "evidence": [
                    {
                        "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                        "locator": "II. No Adjustment for 2026",
                        "excerpt": "OMB instructed agencies to continue using the 2025 civil monetary penalties as applicable."
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "open_questions": [
            {
                "question": "What are the 2025 civil penalty amounts that continue to apply in 2026?",
                "context": "The rule does not list penalty amounts; it refers to the 2025 penalties through the Office of Management and Budget memorandum M-26-11."
            },
            {
                "question": "Will the 2027 review make up for the skipped 2026 adjustment?",
                "context": "The rule says only that the Department will undertake a thorough review of its civil penalties in 2027."
            }
        ],
        "events": [
            {
                "event_type": "originating_action",
                "label": "Issued",
                "occurred_on": "2026-05-27",
                "summary": "Department of Labor Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2026",
                "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026"
            }
        ],
        "corrections": [],
        "sources": [
            {
                "label": "Department of Labor Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2026, 91 FR 31358 (May 27, 2026)",
                "publisher": "Federal Register",
                "role": "primary",
                "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10456/department-of-labor-federal-civil-penalties-inflation-adjustment-act-annual-adjustments-for-2026",
                "pdf_url": "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-27/pdf/2026-10456.pdf"
            }
        ]
    }
}