Trump's Admission on Overtime Pay and Project 2025 Backlash

During a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump openly stated that he would often avoid paying overtime by hiring new staff instead, a remark that was interpreted as a candid acknowledgment of his business practices. This admission has been met with fierce criticism from various groups, including labor unions and political opponents, who assert that it underscores Trump’s lack of commitment to the working class. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) emphasized that Trump’s previous actions as president included cutting overtime eligibility for millions, and they expressed concern that his Project 2025 agenda would further erode these protections. This blueprint suggests sweeping changes that would allow employers to circumvent overtime pay, placing additional financial strain on workers like Theresa Kinard, who rely on overtime to make ends meet.

Project 2025 and Its Implications

Project 2025, associated with a potential second Trump term, outlines extensive revisions to labor laws, particularly concerning overtime pay. The plan proposes to reverse the Biden administration’s expansions of overtime eligibility, which would strip protections from millions of workers. Critics, including labor economists, argue that these changes would primarily benefit employers, allowing them to avoid paying extra for additional hours worked.

Key proposals within Project 2025 include:

• Reverting to Trump-era Rules: Eliminating the Biden overtime rule that increased the salary threshold for overtime eligibility, thereby reducing the number of workers who qualify for time-and-a-half pay.
• Flexible Overtime Calculations: Allowing employers to average hours over multiple weeks, which could lead to workers losing overtime pay altogether.
• Comp Time Instead of Overtime Pay: Introducing measures that would enable workers to trade overtime pay for paid time off, potentially disadvantaging them in practice.

These proposed changes have raised alarms about the future of labor rights in the U.S., with advocates warning that they could dismantle long-standing protections that ensure fair compensation for work.