President Donald Trump intends to nominate Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor, elevating him from his current role as the agency's acting director. The announcement comes two months after Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned from the position amid allegations of abuse of power. Sonderling’s nomination will require Senate confirmation.
A lawyer by profession, Sonderling has held various acting and leadership roles within the Trump administration, including deputy labor secretary and a Republican member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
President Trump expressed his confidence on Truth Social, stating: "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."
The U.S. Labor Department recently issued a directive to all 50 states, urging them to intensify efforts to combat fraud and waste in unemployment insurance programs and warning that failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding. This move is the latest example of the Trump administration scrutinizing potential theft or misuse in state programs that receive federal funding.
While letters were dispatched to all governors, the public announcement focused notably on issues in three Democratic-led states, a pattern observed in similar administration announcements.
"We are officially putting governors on notice," Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said in a statement Wednesday. "The American people will no longer tolerate the blatant waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars — no state should allow it either. If states allow it, they will suffer the consequences."
During Donald Trump's second term, Sonderling also led the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an agency Donald Trump had targeted for closure. His tenure at the library agency was marked by controversy, including placing staff on leave, issuing termination notices, canceling grants, and dismissing all board members. A judge subsequently blocked these actions, and the case remains under appeal.
The vacancy at the Labor Department arose after Chavez-DeRemer's resignation in April, following reports of multiple investigations. A New York Times report detailed an inspector general review into allegations that she, her aides, and family routinely sent personal messages and requests to junior staff. Further accusations included on-the-job drinking and tasking aides with planning official trips for personal reasons. Ms. Chavez-DeRemer has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
