President Donald Trump announced Monday his nomination of acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to permanently lead the Department of Labor, pending Senate confirmation. Sonderling has been serving as acting secretary since April, following the departure of former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Trump announced his decision on social media platform Truth Social, expressing confidence in Sonderling's ability to deliver results for American workers. "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 stated. He highlighted Sonderling's previous roles within the department, including Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, and his work as Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division during Trump's first term.
Sonderling has affirmed President Trump's campaign promise to encourage the return of high-paying private sector jobs to the U.S. He has pointed to an increase in manufacturing and construction jobs, attributing this growth to significant investments from companies such as Lockheed Martin and Toyota. Sonderling has also emphasized the administration's focus on improving the skills of American workers to meet the demands of these roles and bolster the economy.
Chavez-DeRemer left the Labor Department in April, at which point the White House named Sonderling as the acting secretary. Her departure followed a whistleblower complaint that prompted an investigation by the department's inspector general. Allegations included claims of an affair with a security detail member, drinking on the job, creating a hostile work environment, and directing staff to perform personal errands using taxpayer resources. Reports indicated that Chavez-DeRemer allegedly used threats to ensure staff compliance with requests for personal tasks, such as picking up dry cleaning and purchasing wine. She has denied the allegations.