OSHRC's Laihow Looks Set for OSHA Deputy Role

Attorney Amanda Wood Laihow is slated to become the political deputy assistant secretary at OSHA, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
She is a labor lawyer who served as a member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission from 2020 to 2023, nominated by President Donald Trump in his first term to serve out the remainder of Heather MacDougall’s term on the commission.
President Joe Biden renominated her to a second term, but the Senate failed to act on that nomination.
Prior to her nomination, Laihow was chief counsel to then-OSHRC Chairman James J. Sullivan, Jr.
Laihow would work in tandem with Scott Ketcham, named in December, and will eventually report to a new OSHA head under the Trump administration.

The Department of Labor has reportedly issued a memo putting an indefinite hold on the Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health’s activities indefinitely, according to the email circulated to its members.
FACOSH was established to give recommendations to the secretary of Labor and help develop and maintain programs across agencies to keep workers safe on the job.
“All federal advisory committee meetings and activity must be immediately paused. Thus, FACOSH will not meet, including subcommittee conference calls, until we are given further direction,” the email reportedly read.
While a president can shut down some advisory committees, FACOSH was created through law that requires Congressional notification if any advisory committee is disbanded or cannot meet on its regular timeline.
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