Lori Chavez-DeRemer confirmed as labor secretary - HR Dive
How DOL will proceed now is not clear, though there are hints the agency may be assuming an unusually pro-worker stance for a Republican administration.
www.hrdive.comHere’s what I can share based on recent public reports:
Direct answer
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed as Secretary of Labor in March 2025, and by late April 2026 she had left the role, with Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling acting as Secretary (the White House announced her departure and noted the transition) [sources indicate the confirmation in 2025 and her exit in 2026].
Key developments to know
- Confirmation and early tenure (2025): Chavez-DeRemer, formerly a U.S. Representative from Oregon, was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Labor. She signaled a focus on worker pay attention and engaged with labor unions and industry groups during hearings and early policy discussions [sources describe the confirmation vote and initial messaging].[1][5]
- Departure and transition (2026): Reports indicate Chavez-DeRemer resigned from the cabinet in 2026, with Acting Secretary of Labor duties falling to Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling as the administration transitions. The White House characterized the departure as Chavez-DeRemer moving to the private sector or a new role, depending on the article, with confirmation that Sonderling would serve as Acting Secretary.[2][6]
What this means for labor policy
- Expect continuity in leadership flow through an acting secretary for short term, with potential policy shifts tied to the administration’s priorities and the department’s administrative actions (e.g., overtime rule litigation posture, labor standards enforcement, apprenticeship initiatives) as cited in contemporaneous reporting.[5][1]
Illustration
- Timeline snippet:
- 2025-03: Senate confirms Chavez-DeRemer as Secretary of Labor.[3][1]
- 2026-04: Chavez-DeRemer announces departure; Sonderling becomes Acting Secretary.[6][2]
If you’d like, I can pull more precise dates and quotes from these articles, or summarize how her confirmed positions compared to prior DOL policy, with citations.