Federal contractors receiving hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars widely violate wage and safety laws, report finds

Keith Ellison encouraged Trump to stop federal contractors from exploiting workers.
(Image credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

A new report released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday reveals that more than half of the country's largest federal contractors break labor laws including stealing wages and jeopardizing the safety of workers, the International Business Times reports. "All Americans deserve a safe workplace and fair pay for a day's work," Warren said.

The report's publication comes just hours before a Senate vote Monday that would repeal the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order issued by former President Barack Obama. Warren's report found that 66 of the country's 100 largest federal contractors violated wage and hour laws and a third of the violations since 2015 were found by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Federal contractors employ about 20 percent of American workers and receive $500 billion in taxpayer dollars. AT&T had the most violations nationwide, with 30,000, and private prison operator Corrections Corporation of America had 21,000 violations, IBT reports.

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"Too often, federal contractors break labor laws while continuing to suck down millions in taxpayer dollars," Warren said. "Instead of making it easier for companies to cheat their employees or threaten workers' health and safety, President Trump and Republicans in Congress should join Democrats in standing up for the hardworking Americans who do important jobs for our country."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.