Trump and Florida Block Extreme Heat Protections
By Johani Carolina Ponce
With temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit and summers that extend for more months each year, Florida has become one of the epicenters of the climate crisis in the United States. However, instead of strengthening protections for those who need them most, the state has taken steps in the opposite direction. A state law prohibits local governments from establishing basic safety measures for outdoor workers—such as access to water, shade, or breaks—leaving thousands of employees exposed in the midst of extreme heat, while the Trump administration freezes federal efforts to prevent heat-related illnesses.
Heat Protection Prohibited
On July 1, 2024, HB 433, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, went into effect in Florida. The legislation prohibits cities and counties from requiring employers to provide access to drinking water, shaded breaks, or regular rest breaks to prevent heat exhaustion, even when temperatures reach dangerous levels.
“It’s a cruel law,” denounced Oscar Londoño, executive director of WeCount!, an organization that advocates for immigrant workers in South Florida. “Farmworkers, construction workers, and gardeners are on the front lines of this climate crisis, but instead of taking care of them, they are being stripped of basic protections,” said Londoño.
Londoño led the ¡Qué Calor! (What a Heat!) campaign, which since 2021 has called for municipal ordinances to protect workers exposed to extreme heat. With the new state law, those efforts were nullified.
State Representative Tiffany Esposito, sponsor of the bill (HB 433), previously said the bill’s goal is to prevent different counties and cities from having different regulations.
Washington Halts Protections
At the federal level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had proposed a national standard to protect indoor and outdoor workers from heat in 2024. The measure included mandatory access to water, rest breaks, and shade, in addition to the implementation of heat emergency response plans.
However, since Donald Trump took office in January 2025, that proposal has been put on ice, along with other environmental regulations. In April, the new administration ordered a review of all pending rules at OSHA and the Department of Labor, halting implementation of the heat standard, even though the United States is on track to record one of its hottest years on record.
“The Trump administration has not only rolled back basic protections, but has weakened the agency charged with enforcing them,” warned Jordan Barab, former deputy assistant secretary of OSHA under the Obama administration. According to Barab, OSHA has just one inspector for every 85,000 workers in the country.
Alarming Data
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the United States. Between 2011 and 2022, at least 479 workers died from heat-related causes, and more than 34,000 were injured, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Virginia Pablo, a nursery worker and WeCount! member, shares her experience. “For us as outdoor workers, rest is essential to protect our health. But unfortunately, I have been denied a break on many occasions. On other occasions, supervisors have told me that if we wanted water, we should have brought it from home.”
Cities like Miami and Homestead—despite state law—have reiterated their commitment to workplace safety. Some private employers, especially in the agricultural sector, have voluntarily implemented heat acclimatization plans and heat exhaustion training, although they are not legally required to do so.
