The U.S. Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as the Secretary of Labor on Wednesday in a 47-41 vote. Sonderling, who has served as the acting secretary since April, was officially installed as the head of the department just before the Senate adjourned for the October midterm election campaign period.
Sonderling’s confirmation follows the resignation of former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer in late April. Her departure occurred amid allegations of abuse of power, including a Department of Labor inspector general report that described a "toxic, intimidating and humiliating" work environment. Sonderling previously served as deputy labor secretary starting in March 2025 and held roles at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as a senior advisor during the first Trump administration.
During the confirmation process, Republican supporters, including Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), cited Sonderling's experience in labor law and his potential to help businesses navigate workforce changes involving artificial intelligence. Democratic critics, such as Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), opposed the nomination, arguing that Sonderling’s record favored employers over workers. Murray specifically pointed to his involvement in policies regarding overtime rules and the classification of independent contractors.
The confirmation places a permanent leader at the Department of Labor, an agency responsible for administering federal labor laws. The department oversees regulations regarding fair wages, workplace safety, and healthy working conditions. The leadership change comes at a time when the department has taken over the management of certain Department of Education grant programs as part of an administration plan to close the Department of Education.
The transition to Sonderling’s leadership follows a period of internal instability described in a 44-page inspector general report. The report accused the previous secretary of violating department policies on multiple fronts, though it noted that Sonderling was not a central figure in those allegations. According to Sen. Murray, Sonderling’s appointment signals a continuation of policies that could affect overtime protections for workers and the legal status of individuals classified as independent contractors rather than full-time employees.
With the Senate now adjourned for the month of October, the 47-41 party-line vote represents one of the final legislative actions before the 2026 midterm elections. As Secretary, Sonderling will be responsible for implementing the administration’s workforce agenda and overseeing the department's budget and enforcement actions. He begins his permanent tenure immediately following the Wednesday vote.