Biden DOL independent contractor rule reversed, gig workers remain contractors
Enacted7/10
Federal · DOL WHD Field Assistance Bulletin 2025-1 (May 1, 2025); rescission NPRM, 91 FR 9932 (Feb 27, 2026) · Effective May 1, 2025
Impact 7/10
On May 1, 2025 the Trump DOL directed investigators to stop applying the Biden-era 2024 independent contractor rule, which had made it harder to classify workers as contractors, and to revert to earlier, employer-friendlier guidance. In February 2026 DOL formally proposed rescinding the 2024 rule and replacing it with a modified version of the 2021 Trump rule. The change benefits gig platforms such as Uber, DoorDash, and Lyft, leaving millions of gig workers without minimum wage, overtime, workers' comp, or unemployment protections.
Work & wagesHealthcareSafety net & benefitsWorking-age adultsYoung adults (18-30)Low-incomeMiddle-incomeImmigrants
Sources
✓ Verified against primary sources 2026-08-16