The agency said it had found thousands of cases where minors were employed in illegal, often dangerous jobs. Congress has accused the health secretary of failing to protect them.
The coronavirus public health emergency, declared by the Trump administration in 2020, will expire on Thursday. Interviews with senior health officials suggest the nation is not ready for a new pandemic.
Members of Congress are pressing for changes to the law and the Biden administration’s approach as federal and state enforcement agencies begin a crackdown on companies that employ underage migrants.