The Obama Administration has released its fiscal year 2010 budget request.  Among the items are several increases for the federal agencies that oversee labor and employment matters.  Here are some highlights:

• $104.5 billion to the Department of Labor, an increase of 10 percent, to increase its staff and enforcement activity. 
• $283 million for the National Labor Relations Board, an increase of 7.9 percent.
• $267 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an increase of 6.6 percent, to increase staffing. 
• $145 million of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, an increase of 18 percent.
• $112 million to the Department of Homeland Security for the E-Verify program. 

Assuming they are passed by Congress, these increases reverse a long trend under the Bush Administration to cut funding to the federal agencies that enforce labor and employment laws.  Employers can expect increased enforcement of those laws by the federal government in the years to come.