Trump nominates Keith Sonderling to permanent role of labor secretary
✓Donald Trump announced he is nominating Keith Sonderling to serve as US secretary of labor, a role he is currently filling as acting secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s announced her departure in April.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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.”
Trump added: “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.”
Sonderling thanked Trump in his own social media post: “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.”
Sonderling made waves recently when he sent letters to 53 states and union territories demanding they take action to “combat waste, fraud, and abuse” within the unemployment insurance program and threatened to withhold administrative funds for the first time in history.
“We are officially putting governors on notice,” Sonderling said on 17 June. “The American people will no longer tolerate the blatant waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars – no state should allow it either. If states allow it, they will suffer the consequences. This department is no longer afraid to use every lever available to ensure taxpayer money is protected.”
Sonderling appeared on Fox News to discuss the letters and claimed Democrat-led states – he singled out California, New York and Illinois – have the highest instances of fraud, but provided no evidence of the alleged fraud in unemployment systems.
“I will essentially cut off the states’ administrative funds and then they won’t be able to administer this unemployment insurance due to the fraud,” he said.
In April, Chavez-DeRemer stepped down after a series of misconduct allegations, which prompted an internal investigation. The claims included having a sexual relationship with a member of her security team, sending her staff to pick up liquor and attempting to use business trips as excuses for personal travel.
Chavez-DeRemer’s husband, Shawn DeRemer, also faced a series of allegations, including having sexually assaulted two female staff members.
Sonderling served at the US equal employment opportunity commission, and was later tapped by Trump to serve as deputy labor secretary. He also served as acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and acting under secretary of commerce for minority business development in 2025.
Michael Sainato contributed reporting
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Hill ↗
Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate Keith Sonderling as permanent US secretary of labor. Sonderling is currently serving in this role as acting secretary, following Lori Chavez-DeRemer's departure in April. Sonderling previously served as deputy labor secretary and has held various positions within federal agencies including the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In his current acting capacity, Sonderling sent letters to all 50 states and union territories demanding action on unemployment insurance fraud and indicated the department would withhold administrative funds if states did not comply. The nomination requires Senate confirmation. Chavez-DeRemer stepped down following an internal investigation into workplace conduct allegations involving both herself and her husband.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Hill ↗
Donald Trump announced he is nominating Keith Sonderling to serve as US secretary of labor, a role he is currently filling as acting secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s announced her departure in April.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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.”
Trump added: “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.”
Sonderling thanked Trump in his own social media post: “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.”
Sonderling made waves recently when he sent letters to 53 states and union territories demanding they take action to “combat waste, fraud, and abuse” within the unemployment insurance program and threatened to withhold administrative funds for the first time in history.
“We are officially putting governors on notice,” Sonderling said on 17 June. “The American people will no longer tolerate the blatant waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars – no state should allow it either. If states allow it, they will suffer the consequences. This department is no longer afraid to use every lever available to ensure taxpayer money is protected.”
Sonderling appeared on Fox News to discuss the letters and claimed Democrat-led states – he singled out California, New York and Illinois – have the highest instances of fraud, but provided no evidence of the alleged fraud in unemployment systems.
“I will essentially cut off the states’ administrative funds and then they won’t be able to administer this unemployment insurance due to the fraud,” he said.
In April, Chavez-DeRemer stepped down after a series of misconduct allegations, which prompted an internal investigation. The claims included having a sexual relationship with a member of her security team, sending her staff to pick up liquor and attempting to use business trips as excuses for personal travel.
Chavez-DeRemer’s husband, Shawn DeRemer, also faced a series of allegations, including having sexually assaulted two female staff members.
Sonderling served at the US equal employment opportunity commission, and was later tapped by Trump to serve as deputy labor secretary. He also served as acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and acting under secretary of commerce for minority business development in 2025.
Michael Sainato contributed reporting
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Hill ↗
Trump announced the nomination of Keith Sonderling as US secretary of labor. Sonderling is currently serving as acting secretary. Sonderling previously served as deputy labor secretary and chief operating officer. Sonderling has held positions including acting and deputy administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, roles at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and acting under secretary of commerce for minority business development. Lori Chavez-DeRemer departed in April following an internal investigation into misconduct allegations. As acting secretary, Sonderling sent letters to states demanding action on unemployment insurance fraud and threatened to withhold administrative funds. Sonderling claimed Democrat-led states including California, New York, and Illinois have the highest instances of fraud in unemployment systems. Sonderling provided no evidence supporting his claims about fraud levels in specific states.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Hill ↗
- Trump has nominated Keith Sonderling, the current acting labor secretary, to permanently fill the role, pending Senate confirmation.
- Sonderling previously served as deputy labor secretary and has held multiple positions across federal agencies.
- As acting secretary, Sonderling recently sent letters to all states demanding action on unemployment insurance fraud and threatened to withhold administrative funds.
- Sonderling's nomination follows Lori Chavez-DeRemer's departure in April amid misconduct allegations.