- President Donald Trump announced his intention to permanently nominate Keith Sonderling, who has been leading the U.S. Department of Labor in an acting capacity since April, to the role of Labor Secretary.
- Sonderling’s appointment requires Senate confirmation and follows his previous 53–46 party-line confirmation as deputy secretary of labor last year.
- The permanent nomination follows the abrupt April departure of former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whose tenure ended amid internal watchdog scrutiny and a building security scandal involving her husband.
President Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate Keith Sonderling to lead the U.S. Department of Labor permanently.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Sonderling has been serving as the acting secretary since April, stepping into the role following the sudden departure of former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
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The nomination, which was announced via a post on Truth Social on Monday, will require confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
In his announcement, the president praised Sonderling’s career background, stating that he has proven his dedication to delivering strong results for American workers and expressing full confidence in his ability to lead the agency permanently.
Sonderling brings an extensive background in federal labor regulation to the position. During the current administration, he was confirmed as the deputy secretary of labor in a party-line 53–46 Senate vote last year.
He has also filled several other high-profile acting roles during this term, including serving as the acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
His experience spans back to the first Trump administration, during which he served as the acting and deputy administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, followed by a four-year term as a commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Since taking over the department in an acting capacity, Sonderling has taken a high-profile stance on agency oversight, recently issuing formal notices to governors across dozens of states and territories demanding immediate crackdowns on pandemic-era unemployment insurance fraud.
The permanent appointment comes after a turbulent period for the agency’s leadership.
Former Secretary Chavez-DeRemer resigned in April amid intense scrutiny and reports of an internal watchdog investigation into alleged misconduct involving travel procedures and workplace behavior.
Additionally, earlier this year, reports surfaced that her husband had been barred from the Department of Labor headquarters following inappropriate touching allegations involving two female employees.
Federal prosecutors ultimately reviewed the evidence in that matter and opted not to file criminal charges.
The transition to Sonderling’s permanent leadership is expected to signal continuity for the administration’s current labor policy agenda as the nomination heads to the Senate for review.
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