Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri is calling on President Trump’s Labor Department to launch an investigation into Tyson Foods. This follows a report from a whistleblower who alleged that child labor is being used at one of the company’s facilities. On Tuesday, Hawley wrote to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer, urging her to act on the claims. He noted that the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee had started its own inquiry after being alerted by these whistleblowers.
Tyson Foods has faced scrutiny for its operations in Tennessee and other locations, with child labor investigations ongoing in recent years. The whistleblower, a former safety supervisor at Tyson, claims to have directly witnessed minors working and received numerous complaints from other employees regarding child labor at a plant operated by a third-party contractor.
After raising concerns to her supervisor about these child workers, the whistleblower experienced retaliation and reported a “toxic work environment.” As a result, they are now pursuing legal action against the company.
Hawley emphasized that Tyson may be deliberately using subcontractors to circumvent laws against employing minors, thereby avoiding responsibility for violating child labor regulations.
Tyson responded to these allegations, strongly denying any fraudulent activities. A spokesperson stated, “We do not permit anyone under the age of 18 to work at our facilities and will not tolerate the use of child labor by any third parties.” They assured that they comply with labor laws and verify the age of all their team members through federal verification programs.
Labor Secretary Chavez-Deremer, during her confirmation hearing, committed to combating labor abuses, asserting that child labor should not be tolerated in America. Following Hawley’s letter, her office confirmed that she is reviewing the allegations and is dedicated to protecting children from any potential violations.
In a separate incident, Tyson faced public backlash in 2024 for laying off about 1,000 employees after closing an Iowa plant while announcing new hires at a different location in Tennessee.
