Trump Nominates R. Alexander Acosta for Labor Secretary

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Richard Sheinwald / Bloomberg News

President Donald Trump on Feb. 16 named Florida International University law school dean R. Alexander Acosta as his nominee to head the U.S. Department of Labor.

Acosta, a Harvard Law School graduate and former member of the National Labor Relations Board, will replace former Labor Secretary nominee Andrew Puzder, who resigned from consideration Feb. 15 after it became apparent that he lacked the votes to be confirmed.

Acosta also served as assistant attorney general for the civil rights division under President George W. Bush, and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

Meanwhile, the Senate was expected to confirm Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator.