Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., has introduced a bill calling for the abolition of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a federal agency created in 1970 to oversee workplace safety. The bill, which is just 18 words long, proposes to repeal the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, thereby eliminating the agency itself. Biggs’ proposal is framed as a response to what he sees as an overbearing and bloated federal government, which he believes should not be involved in regulating workplace safety.
In a statement accompanying the introduction of the bill, Biggs argued that issues related to health and safety in the workplace are better handled at the state level, or by private employers. “Arizona, and every other state, has the constitutional right to establish and implement their own health and safety measures, and is more than capable of doing so,” he said. Biggs has long been critical of federal agencies, particularly those that set regulations for businesses. He has called for their elimination, claiming that they are an overreach of the federal government’s authority. His stance reflects the broader conservative position that the federal government should be downsized and that states should have more control over local affairs.
The creation of OSHA in 1970 was largely a response to mounting concerns about the safety of workers, particularly after several high-profile industrial disasters in the 1960s. Among the most notable were the 1964 explosion on a drilling barge in the Gulf of Mexico, which killed 21 workers, and the 1968 Farmington Mine disaster, which claimed the lives of 78 miners in West Virginia. These incidents drew attention to the need for stronger, more uniform regulations across the country to protect workers. Before OSHA, workplace safety regulations were a patchwork of inconsistent state laws, leaving workers exposed to dangerous working conditions that varied greatly from one state to another.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed into law by President Richard Nixon in December 1970, aimed to create a uniform standard for workplace safety nationwide. The law established OSHA to set and enforce safety standards, offer training to workers, and protect employees from retaliation when they raise safety concerns. Over the past five decades, OSHA has been credited with significantly improving workplace safety. The agency has set standards to protect workers from harmful substances like asbestos, lead, and benzene, and it has created regulations for ergonomics and equipment safety. OSHA also enforces laws that protect whistleblowers who report unsafe working conditions.
Despite these successes, Biggs and other critics argue that the creation of OSHA was an overreach of federal power. They contend that workplace safety should be governed by state laws and private employers, and that federal regulations impose unnecessary costs on businesses. Biggs believes that Arizona, for instance, should have the autonomy to determine its own safety standards without interference from a federal agency.
The push to scale back federal regulatory agencies, including OSHA, has been a recurring theme among conservative lawmakers, particularly since the Trump administration. Former President Trump, for example, made promises during his campaign to reduce the size and influence of federal agencies. As part of that effort, he appointed Elon Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was tasked with streamlining and reducing the power of agencies like OSHA.
However, critics of Biggs’ proposal warn that dismantling OSHA would put workers at risk. OSHA has played a crucial role in improving safety standards, and its regulations have been instrumental in reducing fatalities and injuries in the workplace. In recent years, OSHA has faced criticism for not doing enough to enforce safety regulations in some industries. For instance, in November 2024, Tesla was fined nearly $7,000 for exposing workers at its Gigafactory in Texas to hazardous chemicals without proper training or monitoring, highlighting concerns about the need for federal oversight.
Biggs has represented Arizona’s fifth district since 2017 and is a candidate for the state’s gubernatorial election in 2026. Throughout his tenure in Congress, he has been a vocal supporter of former President Trump and has echoed many of the former president’s controversial positions. Biggs has been involved in efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, including signing on to a lawsuit that sought to overturn the election outcome. He also played a role in the “Stop the Steal” movement and was reportedly in contact with rally organizers before the Capitol insurrection in January 2021.
As Biggs pushes forward with his plan to abolish OSHA, it is likely that the proposal will face opposition from those who argue that workplace safety is too important to leave to the states. Supporters of OSHA will likely push back against any effort to weaken or eliminate the agency, highlighting its role in protecting workers and preventing workplace tragedies. While the bill may not gain immediate traction, it underscores the ongoing debate over the role of federal government agencies and the appropriate balance between state and federal power.
