Keith Sonderling, then the Acting Secretary of Labor, testifies during a Senate hearing on May 19, 2026.

Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Labor Department proposed a rule on Monday that would raise the bar for people applying for unemployment insurance by requiring them to prove they've conducted five work-search activities per week in order to qualify for benefits.

In the announcement, the Trump administration described the proposal as a way to improve the "integrity and accountability" of the joint federal-state unemployment insurance system. Consumer advocates said the proposed work-search baseline of five qualifying activities per week exceeded that in most states and would make it more difficult for many applicants to qualify for assistance.

There is currently no uniform requirement across the U.S.…