A familiar face returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, with former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito facing a Senate panel as President Donald Trump’s nominee for inspector general of the Department of Labor.
Trump fired 18 inspectors general across the federal government, including Labor’s, shortly after taking office in January, setting off legal challenges. At a hearing in March, a federal judge suggested that while the firings were most likely illegal, requiring their reinstatement would be pointless because Trump could simply fire them again. The case hasn’t yet been resolved, but that hasn’t stopped the White House from moving ahead with inspector general nominations.
D’Esposito described himself as uniquely qualified to serve as Labor’s inspector general, touting his background as a former New York Police Department detective, Hempstead town councilman and representative. “Throughout my career, I’ve built strong, respectful relationships with organized labor. I’ve been a union member my entire adult life and worked side by side with union leaders as both an elected councilman and member of Congress,” he said. “If confirmed, I will bring that same grit, independence and accountability to the Department of Labor.”
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., seemed impressed with D’Esposito’s resume. “Congressman, man, you’ve got a great background for this job,” he said.
D’Esposito’s background includes facing his own watchdog scrutiny, including internal inquiries during his NYPD career and a New York Times investigation alleging he violated House ethics rules by hiring his fiancee’s daughter and a woman with whom he was having an affair. D’Esposito later pushed back on that report, calling it a “hit piece.”
During his lone term in Congress, D’Esposito sat on the Homeland Security, House Administration, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He aligned with the GOP’s moderate wing, joining the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and siding frequently enough with labor interests to win a few union endorsements. He was the first GOP member to publicly call for the resignation of George Santos, and he helped lead an eventual expulsion push.
Last year, D’Esposito lost his reelection bid to Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen by around 2 points, roughly mirroring Trump’s performance in this district.
D’Esposito was one of four nominees at Wednesday’s hearing, along with Jonathan Berry for Labor solicitor, Andrew Rogers for administrator of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, and acting Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Andrea Lucas, who Trump renominated for a second term on the commission.
Democrats on the panel mostly aimed their questions at Lucas. Trump fired two Democratic EEOC commissioners in January. One of those sued the administration in April challenging Trump’s attempt to dismiss her without cause from the independent commission. That lawsuit is ongoing. At the hearing, Lucas said she believes the EEOC is not an independent agency, but rather part of the executive branch.
Appointed to the EEOC in 2020 by Trump, Lucas has recently trained attention on diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the private sector and has promised she aims to rescind EEOC guidance on transgender discrimination. With just two sitting members, the five-seat EEOC currently lacks a quorum required to formally make significant policy changes.
D’Esposito did face tough questions from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., who pressed all of the nominees on their independence from the White House and whether they would follow the law should Trump ask them to take illegal actions.
When D’Esposito said he’d accept being terminated by Trump should the president so decide, Hassan asked if he could still perform the duties dispassionately.
“I’m well aware of the role of the inspector general, and just as I have in my entire career, I plan on — if confirmed — leading the inspector general’s office without fear or favor,” he responded.
If confirmed, D’Esposito would be the latest former GOP lawmaker nominated by Trump to make it through the process, though his title may not be as significant. Former Sen. Marco Rubio is secretary of State, former Rep. Doug Collins heads Veterans Affairs, former Rep. Billy Long was recently confirmed to run the IRS, former Rep. Sean Duffy is Transportation secretary, former Sen. Kelly Loeffler leads the Small Business Administration, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is director of National Intelligence, former Rep. and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is Homeland Security secretary, and former Rep. Lee Zeldin, a fellow New York Republican, leads the EPA.
As inspector general, D’Esposito would keep tabs on a Labor Department headed by another Hill veteran, former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who likewise lost a close reelection bid in 2024.
The post Anthony D’Esposito looks to go from cop to congressman to inspector general appeared first on Roll Call.
