Former Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned April 20, stepping down from the position following allegations that she denied. These allegations ranged from misconduct accusations such as an alleged inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and purportedly using U.S. Department of Labor funds for personal trips, claims of family involvement with young staff, and leadership concerns, including claims she instructed staff to prioritize her family needs.
Chavez-DeRemer rejected the allegations, calling them untrue. “No one fights harder for the American worker than President Trump, and I am honored to have served under the most pro-worker president in U.S. history,” she stated on social media. “The allegations against me, my family, and my team have been peddled by high-ranked deep-state actors who have been coordinating with the one-sided news media and continue to undermine President Trump’s mission. I look forward to continuing to fight the good fight from the outside and always advocating for the American worker.”
Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican who was a former representative from Oregon, was backed by the Teamsters to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. During her confirmation by the Senate, she garnered support from some Democrats. The Senate confirmed her by a vote of 67-32, with 17 Democrats voting yes and three Republicans voting no.
While in Congress, Chavez-DeRemer was one of three House Republicans who co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a comprehensive and controversial bill that would have:
- Strengthened workers’ rights to organize.
- Limited employer communication with employees during a union organizing campaign.
- Eliminated right-to-work laws protecting workers from mandatory payment of union dues.
- Expanded the definition of “employee” to include many workers who are currently independent contractors.
- Expanded joint employment for the purposes of collective bargaining.
However, Chavez-DeRemer said she supports state right-to-work laws. A right-to-work state has legislation that guarantees that no one can be forced as a condition of employment to join or pay dues or fees to a labor union.
Reaction to Resignation
Democratic congressional representatives welcomed Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation and criticized her leadership, while the Trump administration defended her tenure.
Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Donald Norcross, D-N.J., Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., and Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., issued the following statement in response to the resignation of Chavez-DeRemer: “As an official in the Trump Administration, Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer directed the systematic dismantling of the Department of Labor. Her leadership compromised workplace safety and has left the American workforce at significantly greater risk.”
They added, “Under her leadership, the department faced persistent allegations of misconduct, abuse, harassment, and retaliation against staff who reported wrongdoing. This environment undermined the agency’s ability to carry out its important mission and weakened enforcement at a time when workers needed it most.”
However, a spokesman for the Trump administration praised Chavez-DeRemer’s service as secretary of labor. “Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the administration to take a position in the private sector. She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives. Keith Sonderling will take on the role of acting secretary of labor.”
Sonderling was chosen previously to be deputy secretary of labor. Before that, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from September 2020 until August 2024. He served as the commission’s vice chair from 2020 to 2021.
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