President Donald Trump announced on Monday via Truth Social that he is nominating Keith Sonderling to be the permanent U.S. Secretary of Labor. Sonderling, who has been serving as the agency's acting director since April, will require Senate approval for the appointment. In his announcement, Trump praised Sonderling's dedication to delivering strong results for the hardworking people of the country.
Sonderling is a lawyer who has held various leadership roles across the federal government, including during Trump's first term. He previously served as the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the Labor Department, and as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the department's Wage and Hour Division. He also served as a Republican member of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before being appointed as the Labor Department's chief operating officer last year. His previous appointment as deputy secretary was confirmed by the Senate in a 53-46 vote.
The nomination comes two months after the resignation of Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Her departure followed abuse-of-power allegations and reports that the Labor Department’s inspector general was reviewing materials showing that she, her top aides, and family members routinely sent personal messages and requests to young staff members. Chavez-DeRemer also faced allegations of drinking alcohol on the job and tasking aides to plan official trips for primarily personal reasons, though she has denied any wrongdoing.