Labor Department Sidelines Staffers Amid Doge Push For Immigrant Data

Multiple employees at the Labor Department who handle sensitive data related to immigrant workers were placed on leave after run-ins with DOGE members according to five people familiar with the matter.

Those placed on leave include a nearly 20-year veteran of the agency, Steven Rietzke, and at least one other staffer at DOL’s Employment and Training Administration, according to current and former employees who were granted anonymity so they could discuss sensitive information.

“Ths one really came out of the blue,” said one DOL employee.

The development comes as DOGE increasingly looks to repurpose federal agencies' data and systems in ways that could bolster the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The Labor Department plays a key role in the process for certain employment-based visas, and ETA is the part of the agency that primarily handles workforce development grants.

In March, DOGE staffer Miles Collins attempted to access some of ETA’s systems, including those related to the National Farmworker Jobs Program, the people said. The program, which totals less than $100 million, funds job training and other services for workers to obtain more stable employment in agriculture or other industries. It is open to those legally authorized to work in the U.S. and includes other eligibility requirements.

Rietzke, who has served as division chief for ETA's National Programs, Tools and Technical Assistance since 2016, was one of several career staffers who raised objections to the breadth of information DOGE was seeking.

“They pushed back on trying to get some things not included in the database that DOGE was building,” the current staffer said.

Rietzke confirmed being placed on leave but declined to comment further.

DOL did not respond to a request for comment.

Two lower-level staffers — including one who worked directly on the farmworker jobs program and another within ETA’s Office of Workforce Investment — were also placed on leave, according to two of the people.

It is unclear how extensive the pushback was to DOGE’s entreaty. Several people said they believed employees were put on leave because of those interactions, while others described the meetings as unremarkable — until Rietzke and the two lower-level staffers were suddenly sidelined.

“Steve controlled a lot of ETA funds,” said a different DOL employee.

In addition to Collins, DOGE’s Marko Elez — who briefly left the Trump administration after The Wall Street Journal reported on his history of racist social media posts — has been stationed at the department as an official agency employee, according to court documents.

DOGE's access to data under the farmworker jobs program was first reported by WIRED on Friday. According to WIRED. DOGE has a third person, Aram Moghaddassi, working at DOL alongside Elez and Collins.

An ETA staffer with knowledge of the farmworker jobs program said DOGE’s access could erode trust with workers that is needed to help the agency keep tabs on employers through the Monitor Advocate System.

“When you think about how hard it is to gain [migrant and seasonal farmworkers’] trust in providing all that sensitive info, it’s really devastating to see it being vulnerable to exploitation,” the person said. ”And if you try to do anything about it, you pretty much get put on admin leave.”

The person added that many of their colleagues at ETA are disheartened and intend to take the Trump administration’s exit offer as a result.

Staff at ETA and other parts of DOL have until midnight Friday to enter into the Deferred Resignation Program or take an early retirement option. Dozens of employees at four smaller parts of DOL have already opted in, fearing mass layoffs.