President Trump has formally nominated Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to be the permanent U.S. labor secretary, putting a seasoned department insider up for Senate confirmation after an acting stint that began in April following Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s departure amid a whistleblower complaint. If confirmed, Sonderling would move from acting chief to the Cabinet and keep the department focused on enforcing labor laws, running workforce programs, and advancing an administration pro-work agenda. The move is billed as a steadying choice that leans on experience and a results-oriented record at the Labor Department.
Keith Sonderling has been running the Labor Department on an acting basis since April and previously held roles as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, along with time in the Wage and Hour Division during the prior administration. That institutional experience gives him an operational edge and a clear line to the department’s enforcement and program teams. Supporters say that kind of continuity matters when you are enforcing rules and trying to keep people working.
“It is my Great Honor to announce that I am nominating Keith E. Sonderling, the outstanding Acting United States Secretary of Labor, to be permanent,” Trump announced on Truth Social. “Keith previously served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and, during my First Term, worked at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
“Throughout his career, Keith has proven his dedication to delivering strong results for the Hardworking People of our Country, and I know he will do an incredible job in his new role,” Trump added. The president’s endorsement frames Sonderling as a practical pick who knows the department and the priorities of the administration.
If the Senate confirms him, Sonderling will formally assume a Cabinet post that covers a broad swath of responsibilities, from enforcing federal labor statutes to running job training, unemployment and workforce development programs. The role also carries the political task of balancing worker protections with policies that encourage economic growth and hiring. Expect him to emphasize clear, predictable enforcement and programs that aim to get Americans into steady employment.
Chavez-DeRemer left the Labor Department in April amid a whistleblower complaint that leveled serious workplace allegations, and her exit opened the door for Sonderling to step in as acting secretary. The complaint accused her of having an affair with a member of her security detail, drinking on the job, creating a hostile work environment and directing staff to perform personal errands at taxpayer expense. Those charges prompted an inspector general inquiry that remains part of the backdrop to this leadership handoff.
The complaint further alleges that Chavez-DeRemer’s husband made unwanted advances toward department officials and that family members routinely sent personal requests to young staffers, creating an environment that critics say undermined morale and trust. Reporting on the complaints also indicates staff were asked to fetch dry cleaning, purchase wine and clean out closets, with allegations that threats were used to ensure compliance. Chavez-DeRemer has denied the allegations, but the inspector general review keeps the matter unresolved in the public eye.
For Republicans and many conservatives, Sonderling represents a return to steady management and clear priorities: protect workers, enforce the law, and avoid politicized personnel scandals that distract from the agency’s mission. His resume inside Labor gives him credibility to reset standards and push an agenda that favors both accountability and job creation. A swift confirmation would be framed as restoring normalcy and getting the department back to serving hardworking Americans rather than being mired in internal controversy.
