Arizona U.S. Representative Andy Biggs has introduced a new bill to eliminate OSHA. The “NOSHA Act,” also known as the “Nullify Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act,” was sent to the Committee on Education and Workforce for additional consideration.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which created OSHA as a federal agency tasked with upholding workplace safety and health regulations, is intended to be repealed under the proposed law. The bill would essentially abolish the agency if it were approved.
In this new bill from 2025, Biggs is introducing language similar to a bill he proposed in 2021.
“OSHA’s existence is yet another example of the federal government creating agencies to address issues that state governments and private employers more appropriately handle,” said Congressman Andy Biggs in a 2021 press release.
“Arizona, and every other state, has the constitutional right to establish and implement its own health and safety measures and is more than capable of doing so. It’s time that we fight back against the bloated federal government and eliminate agencies that never should have been established in the first place. I will not let OSHA push Arizona around with their bureaucratic regulations and urge my colleagues to support my effort to eliminate this unconstitutional federal agency,” Biggs said.
The bill’s proponents contend that less federal control over workplace safety is necessary, while its detractors caution that eliminating OSHA would weaken worker safeguards in the United States. As the bill passes through Congress, its progress will be keenly monitored.
Bill to Abolish OSHA
In a bold and highly controversial move, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has introduced new legislation aimed at abolishing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the federal agency responsible for regulating workplace safety standards across the United States since 1970.
The proposed bill, titled the No OSHA Act (NOSHA), seeks to repeal the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, a landmark piece of legislation signed into law by President Richard Nixon. The act originally established OSHA to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for employees by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, outreach, and assistance.
According to Rep. Biggs, the federal government has “overreached in its attempt to regulate workplaces across the country,” arguing that individual states and employers should have more autonomy in determining workplace safety protocols. “The federal health administration is bloated, outdated, and unnecessary,” Biggs said during a press conference on Capitol Hill. “This bill restores liberty and allows businesses to operate free from burdensome federal mandates.”
Critics of the NOSHA Act warn that abolishing OSHA would severely undermine decades of progress in worker health and safety. Labor unions and safety advocates have slammed the bill as a direct attack on the rights and well-being of American workers. “The idea that states can regulate occupational health and safety better without OSHA is not only dangerous—it’s irresponsible,” said a spokesperson for the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.
Legal analysts note that the Supreme Court may eventually play a critical role in determining the future of OSHA if the bill gains momentum. In recent years, the high court has shown an increasing willingness to reconsider longstanding federal regulatory authority in a variety of sectors, raising questions about the long-term stability of institutions like OSHA.
While the bill faces steep opposition from Democratic lawmakers and several moderate Republicans, Rep. Biggs remains defiant. “It’s time we repeal 1970,” he declared. “OSHA must go, and with it, a massive federal overreach that has stifled innovation and productivity for over five decades.”
The NOSHA Act has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for further consideration. A vote has yet to be scheduled. As the debate heats up, the country watches closely to see whether this radical proposal could signal a turning point in how America approaches workplace safety.
Strong Opposition from Labor Groups
The legislation has drawn immediate backlash from labor unions and worker advocacy organizations, who warn that eliminating OSHA would lead to increased workplace injuries and deaths.
“OSHA was created for a reason—to protect workers from unsafe and deadly working conditions,” said Maria Delgado, President of the National Federation of Labor. “Without federal oversight, we risk rolling back decades of progress.”
Delgado cited OSHA statistics showing that workplace fatalities have dropped by more than 60% since the agency’s creation in 1971. “This bill is a direct threat to the lives of millions of American workers,” she added.
Mixed Reactions in Congress
While the bill has gained support from several conservative lawmakers who view it as a step toward deregulation and states’ rights, it faces an uphill battle in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
House Minority Leader Karen Liu slammed the proposal, calling it “reckless and dangerous.”
“This is not about liberty or freedom—it’s about removing protections for working Americans,” Liu said during a press conference Tuesday morning. “We will fight this bill at every turn.”
Business Community Divided
Some business groups have cautiously welcomed the bill, saying it could lead to more flexible and cost-effective safety measures tailored to specific industries.
“Many companies already have robust safety programs in place,” said Jason Brewster, spokesperson for the American Business Coalition. “This legislation could cut unnecessary duplication and allow for more innovation at the local level.”
However, others in the business community are concerned about the potential legal chaos and inconsistencies that could arise from a patchwork of state safety standards.
What Happens Next?
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where it will undergo hearings in the coming weeks. Though its chances of passing both chambers of Congress remain uncertain, the proposal has ignited a nationwide conversation about the role of federal oversight in workplace safety.
As debates continue, workers, business owners, and lawmakers alike are watching closely, aware that the stakes could not be higher.