The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor responsible for administering, regulating and enforcing the provisions of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). At the time of its name change in February 2003, EBSA was known as the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA). Prior to January 1986, PWBA was known as the Pension and Welfare Benefits Program. Originally the Program was established as an Office within the Labor Management Services Administration reporting the then Assistant Secretary Paul Fasser and his successors from 1974 through 1986.

Leadership

EBSA is led by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security, a Sub-Cabinet-level position requiring nomination by the President of the United States and confirmation by the United States Senate. The office is currently held by Lisa Gomez, who was sworn in as Assistant Secretary on October 11, 2022. The previous Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security and head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration was Preston Rutledge. Past Assistant Secretaries include Phyllis Borzi, Bradford P. Campbell, Ann L. Combs, and Olena Berg-Lacy.

Organization

EBSA is organized into nine program offices: EBSA also maintains 15 regional and district field offices throughout the US to conduct investigations to detect and correct violations of Title I of ERISA and related criminal laws, and answer inquiries and complaints received by phone, mail, electronically or in person.