On Monday, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce his nomination of Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling for the position of Secretary of Labor.
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. Keith previously served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and, during my First Term, worked at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
After the trainwreck that was former Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump has put forth a nominee that not only has a proven record of being pro-business and pro-independent professional, but like others in Trump's cabinet, Sonderling knows how to articulate and execute the president's agenda without making it about himself.
As RedState reported, in January, an Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation was opened on Chavez-DeRemer, accusing her of travel fraud, having an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, and drinking on the job. Chavez-DeRemer resigned as Secretary of Labor in April, under this cloud of scandal and misconduct. The investigation was concluding around the time that Chavez-DeRemer exited the role.
Read More: Under a Cloud of Scandal, Embattled Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns
Chavez-DeRemer was a controversial pick from the beginning. She had strong pro-labor union leanings and was backed by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien. When Chavez-DeRemer served Oregon as a Congresswoman, she was a co-sponsor of the PRO Act, which sought to eliminate independent contracting and right-to-work laws, while pushing workers into forced unionization. Her nomination was the antithesis of President Trump's pro-business and pro-freedom working people's agenda, but thanks to her union patronage, she received the warm embrace and vote of several Republicans AND Democrats in the Senate, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), former Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
Sonderling's record is exactly the opposite. Sonderling served in President Trump’s first term as Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Labor Division. In that role, Sonderling was instrumental in the formation and language incorporated in the 2020 Trump Independent Contractor rule, which protected the role of independent contractors, allowing them to maintain their status, freedom, and flexibility. In 2021, the Biden administration rescinded this rule and instituted its own. After Trump won the election in 2024, Sonderling worked to cease enforcement of the 2024 Biden independent contractor rule, and helped to craft the 2026 Trump Independent Contractor rule which follows the framework of Trump's 2021 rule, but incorporates modifications to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).
As Acting Secretary, Sonderling has strongly advocated for Trump's pro-business and pro-worker agenda, touting the manufacturing jobs that have been returned to the U.S., and has worked tirelessly to beef up and expand apprenticeships through the U.S. Department of Labor for small businesses and private-sector concerns. Under Biden's DOL, apprenticeships were issued through the major labor unions like the AFL-CIO and SEIU, effectively cutting out any private sector opportunities. Sonderling has also long been a champion for defined benefit pension plan sponsors to be able to use group annuities to protect pension benefits through pension risk transfers, and to allow employers to incorporate retirement plan options like cryptocurrency assets and private credit funds.
But most pivotal, Sonderling is working hand-in-hand with the Fraud Task Force to eradicate the rampant unemployment insurance fraud.
Before receiving the permanent nomination, Sonderling attracted national attention through his oversight of unemployment insurance programs. Earlier this month, he sent letters to officials in 53 states and U.S. territories. Those letters requested stronger action against waste, fraud, and abuse within unemployment insurance systems.
In the correspondence, Sonderling warned that the Department of Labor could withhold administrative funding from jurisdictions that failed to address identified problems. He said the department would use every available authority to protect taxpayer funds. The effort also aims to strengthen oversight of unemployment insurance programs.
WATCH:
ACTING SECRETARY OF LABOR KEITH SONDERLING: Someone with a birth date in the year 2154 was actually approved for unemployment insurance. That's how rampant the fraud got.
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) May 26, 2026
We're shutting it down and prosecuting the people who stole taxpayer money.@Sonderling47 pic.twitter.com/XmY1U0WEvk
Unlike the person who held his role during the Biden administration, Sonderling has been active in speaking out against and helping to institute policies to fight antisemitism in the workplace.
Congratulations, @Sonderling47!
— RJC (@RJC) June 29, 2026
Your critical work combating antisemitism in the workplace, growing the economy, and spurring historic job creation in America proves that @POTUS absolutely chose the right person to lead the Department of Labor.
We urge the Senate to swiftly… pic.twitter.com/zyXBuzb5bB
Congratulations, Sonderling47!
Your critical work combating antisemitism in the workplace, growing the economy, and spurring historic job creation in America proves that @POTUS absolutely chose the right person to lead the Department of Labor.
We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm President Trump’s nomination of Keith Sonderling to lead @USDOL
Sonderling's nomination has received high praise from current and former members of Congress. Chairman of the Senate Health, Employment, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) had nothing but plaudits for Sonderling.
Cassidy posted on X:
Congratulations to Keith Sonderling on his nomination to be Secretary of Labor. I enjoy working with him, and I appreciate his thoughtful leadership at @USDOL. He is the kind of pro-worker leader that Americans deserve. I look forward to hearing from him before the HELP…
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) June 29, 2026
Congratulations to Keith Sonderling on his nomination to be Secretary of Labor. I enjoy working with him, and I appreciate his thoughtful leadership at @USDOL. He is the kind of pro-worker leader that Americans deserve. I look forward to hearing from him before the HELP Committee.
Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) also gave Sonderling high marks, affirming his American worker-first record.
Outstanding choice by President Trump. Keith Sonderling has a proven record of putting American workers and job creators first. The Department of Labor will be in excellent hands! pic.twitter.com/XXy9UXwQWG
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) June 30, 2026
Sonderling was also praised by business leaders.
An absolutely outstanding choice by President Trump to lead the Department of Labor.
— Akash Chougule (@AkashJC) June 30, 2026
Labor/workforce policy is full of people who claim to fight for workers, but in reality only look out for special interests trying to enrich and empower themselves. But not @Sonderling47.… https://t.co/Mg0j05P7N6
An absolutely outstanding choice by President Trump to lead the Department of Labor.
Labor/workforce policy is full of people who claim to fight for workers, but in reality only look out for special interests trying to enrich and empower themselves. But not @Sonderling47.
Keith has spent his entire career actually fighting for the rights, freedoms, and well-being of workers – regardless of whether they are union, non-union, freelance, entrepreneur, or otherwise.
He has a demonstrated track record of uplifting workers by putting free markets and equality under the law first. When that happens, no one can compete with America’s workers. They are an engine of progress, production, innovation, and upward mobility for themselves and tens of millions of others.
The Senate should confirm Keith Sonderling for Labor Secretary unanimously.
As well as employer and worker organizations, including the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE).
Keith is a wise leader who understands the needs of working families and designs policies that help them.
— Jim O’Neill (@regardthefrost) June 30, 2026
He will be an excellent Secretary. https://t.co/P1rYdEyDqw
NCAE sang Sonderling's praises to the rafters in this X thread:
We are eager to support Acting Secretary Sonderling’s nomination, and to work with the Trump Administration to secure the broad bipartisan support in the Senate that his nomination merits.
— NCAE (@NCAEonline) June 30, 2026
At every step in his career, Acting Secretary Sonderling has demonstrated that he is not only a friend to the American farmer, but that he is also a champion for our agricultural economy. From helping to spearhead the development of the Interim Final Rule Secretary, to his stewardship of the rule’s implementation, NCAE members have always been confident that we had an ally in Acting Secretary Sonderling.
We are eager to support Acting Secretary Sonderling’s nomination, and to work with the Trump Administration to secure the broad bipartisan support in the Senate that his nomination merits.
Sonderling responded with grace to President Trump's nomination and reposted the president's Truth saying:
I am deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence.
— Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling (@Sonderling47) June 29, 2026
Serving in both of President Trump’s Administrations has been the greatest honor of my life.
If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to continuing that service as Secretary of Labor and advancing the… pic.twitter.com/pW4vucF8rI
I am deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence.
Serving in both of President Trump’s Administrations has been the greatest honor of my life.
If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to continuing that service as Secretary of Labor and advancing the President’s agenda on behalf of America’s workers, families, unions, and job creators.
For his nomination to Deputy Secretary of Labor in 2025, Sonderling was confirmed along party lines. With certain Senate Republicans in open rebellion against President Trump, and Senate Democrats unchanged from their usual TDS-riddled obstructionism, we will see how long it takes for Sonderling's nomination to move toward a confirmation hearing.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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