In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Department of Labor under the Trump administration has proposed rescinding the 2013 rule that extended Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) protections—namely the federal minimum wage and overtime pay—to home care workers, potentially affecting over 3 million caregivers nationwide. The rollback would revert to a regulatory definition from 1975, which treated many caregiving roles as “companionship services,” largely exempt from such protections. This move is part of a broader push by the current administration to simplify or eliminate more than 60 workplace regulations deemed “obsolete.”

The original 2013 rule formally brought home health care and related domestic workers under FLSA coverage, affirming their right to earn at least $7.25 per hour and receive overtime pay when working beyond 40 hours per week. Critics of the rollback argue that removing these safeguards would disproportionately harm workers—85% of whom are women and two-thirds are people of color—and exacerbate persistently high turnover rates in the industry, which hover around 80% annually. PHI (Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute), a caregiver advocacy and research group, points out that since the rule’s implementation, enforcement actions have recovered nearly $158 million in back wages for workers, offering tangible evidence of its benefits.

Supporters of the change, including the Home Care Association of America—representing approximately 4,300 agencies—contend that the rule has delivered unintended consequences. Instead of increasing worker pay, they say agencies responded by limiting workers to 40 hours a week to avoid triggering overtime, reducing overall earnings for caregivers. In many cases, workers previously clocking 60–70 hours per week were forced to take second jobs, disrupting continuity of care and imposing additional costs on agencies to recruit and train replacement staff. The association’s legislative director, a former Wage and Hour Division head from the first Trump administration, emphasizes that while everyone agrees caregivers “are angels” and deserve higher pay, existing budget constraints and insufficient Medicaid funding—particularly in states where home‑based care isn’t covered—make paying overtime rates impractical.

Home care wages remain low by most standards. In 2024, the national median wage for these roles was $16.78 per hour, according to Department of Labor data, with roughly half of caregivers relying on public assistance. Advocates and economists warn that rolling back labor protections during a period of expanding demand—PHI projects an additional 681,000 home care jobs in the next decade—could make caregiving roles even harder to fill, undermining access to essential services for vulnerable individuals.

Opponents argue that reducing protections won’t reduce demand unless the workforce remains intact—and that improving job quality must accompany efforts to make care more affordable. In some states, like New York, caregiving workers still benefit from state-level protections such as the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which preserves minimum and overtime pay regardless of federal rule changes.

Why This Matters Locally

Cowlitz County, like much of rural southwest Washington, is experiencing shifts in demographics and rising demand for at-home senior care. Many local residents rely on Medicaid or personal funds to access such services. A rollback in wage protections could depress caregiver pay, reduce job stability, and increase turnover, depriving families of consistent support and burdening local agencies already operating under tight budgets.

Moreover, affordable, reliable home care allows elderly and disabled residents to remain in their homes and communities—preserving independence, reducing strain on institutional care systems, and minimizing public expense. Undermining caregiver labor rights risks unraveling this balance.

Related Coverage

Columbia Countercurrent has previously reported on Medicaid policy adjustments in Washington State that affect in-home care funding and rural provider sustainability.

Next Steps for Local Readers: Contact your state legislators to ask how Washington is preparing to uphold labor standards for home care workers if federal protections are rolled back. Monitor announcements from the Department of Labor’s public comment process to understand timelines and potential local impacts.