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Senate approves Keith Sonderling to lead Labor Department
Lori Chavez-DeRemer left post in April
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Keith Sonderling on Sept. 29 in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
Key Takeaways:
- The Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as Labor secretary Sept. 30 by a 47-41 vote after he served as acting secretary since April.
- Republicans cited Sonderling’s experience and support for workers and businesses, while Democrats opposed him over Labor Department policies under the Trump administration.
- As secretary, Sonderling will lead the Labor Department as lawmakers continue debating administration labor policies and oversight of transferred education grant programs.
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Labor on Sept. 30 just before heading home to campaign for the midterm elections.
Keith Sonderling, who was confirmed 47-41, has been the acting secretary since April and has served in multiple roles within the department over the course of his career. He was picked for the job after the White House announced that Lori Chavez-DeRemer would be leaving her post to take a job in the private sector. Her exit followed multiple allegations that she had abused the power of her position.
Sonderling was a senior adviser in the department during Trump’s first term and later served as a Republican member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He also taught about the laws the department enforces as an adjunct professor at George Washington University. He returned to the department in Trump’s second term and was confirmed as deputy secretary in March of last year.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said it was clear Sonderling was qualified for the position when the committee he chairs advanced his nomination to the full Senate.
“I’m confident that he will protect workers, help businesses create more jobs, and help workers navigate AI-driven changes in the workforce,” Cassidy said.
American Trucking Associations in a statement applauded the Senate's action. ATA strongly backed Sonderling’s nomination due to his extensive experience with issues vital to the trucking industry as well as his advocacy for common-sense protections for independent contractors.
Congratulations to Keith Sonderling on being confirmed as the 31st Secretary of Labor!
Follow Secretary Sonderling: @Sonderling47 pic.twitter.com/LnANQi3pko— U.S. Department of Labor (@USDOL) October 1, 2026
“The 8.4 million hardworking men and women employed in the trucking industry rightfully expect steady, thoughtful leadership from DOL,” said ATA Chief Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer Henry Hanscom. “Equipping today’s and tomorrow’s truckers with the tools they need to succeed, and protecting their ability to launch and grow their own businesses if they choose, is essential. Maintaining a regulatory environment that functions well for both workers and employers is also critical.”
“Meeting these challenges requires a Secretary of Labor with deep workforce expertise, strong policy judgment, and proven agency-management experience,” Hanscom continued. “Mr. Sonderling has demonstrated that he possesses all three of these traits. We congratulate him on this well-deserved promotion, and we look forward to working with him as he assumes this new leadership role.”
Democrats opposed Sonderling's confirmation, citing administration policies at the department they disagreed with, including management of some Department of Education grant programs at Labor. That’s been happening as Trump works to fulfill his campaign pledge to close the Department of Education entirely.
The Labor Department's mission is focused on administering federal labor laws to guarantee workers’ rights to fair, safe, and healthy working conditions.
“I fear any vote to confirm you is for more of the same: to strip overtime protections for our workers, to undercut our unions and to let giant corporations get away with robbery, literally,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said during Sonderling's confirmation hearing.
