Here’s who Trump just appointed.
President Donald Trump has officially named Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling as his choice to permanently lead the U.S. Department of Labor, putting him one step closer to taking over the role full-time.
The nomination now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers must vote to confirm Sonderling before he can officially become Trump’s permanent Labor secretary.
Sonderling has served as acting secretary since April 2026 after former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped down following months of controversy surrounding her leadership.
Chavez-DeRemer faced allegations involving the handling of department resources, claims of inappropriate interactions with staff, and accusations of drinking while on duty. She has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.
When the accusations first surfaced, both the White House and the Labor Department dismissed them as unfounded. However, public responses became more restrained as additional reports surfaced in the weeks leading up to her resignation.
According to a report published by The New York Times shortly before Chavez-DeRemer resigned, the Labor Department’s inspector general was investigating allegations involving the former secretary, several senior aides, and members of her family. The report said investigators were reviewing claims that young staff members were regularly asked to handle personal requests and communications unrelated to official government business.
Sonderling brings significant experience to the position. Before becoming acting secretary, he served as Deputy Secretary of Labor under Chavez-DeRemer. During President Trump’s first administration, he also held leadership roles within the department, including Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, where he helped oversee enforcement of federal labor laws.
President Trump announced the nomination Monday in a post on Truth Social, praising Sonderling’s record of public service and leadership.
Trump said it was his “great honor” to nominate Sonderling, pointing to his previous work as Deputy Secretary, Chief Operating Officer, and senior Labor Department official during the president’s first term. Trump also praised Sonderling’s commitment to serving hardworking Americans and expressed confidence that he would continue delivering strong results if confirmed.
The Senate has already approved Sonderling once before. In 2025, lawmakers confirmed him as Deputy Secretary of Labor by a 53-46 party-line vote, giving him an established record of Senate support.
If confirmed again, Sonderling will officially become President Trump’s permanent Labor secretary and will oversee the administration’s labor policies, workforce initiatives, and enforcement of federal workplace regulations as Trump continues advancing his economic agenda.