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Trump’s Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer latest to leave administration
TL;DR
US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving her position in the Trump administration, becoming the third woman to depart since March. She will transition to a private sector role, with Keith Sonderling stepping in as Acting Secretary of Labor.
Key points
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving her post as US Secretary of Labor.
- She is the third woman to leave the Trump administration since March.
- Keith Sonderling will become Acting Secretary of Labor.
- Chavez-DeRemer is moving to a position in the private sector.
- She faced investigation for inappropriate conduct during her tenure.
Mentioned in this story
Lori Chavez-DeRemerKeith SonderlingDonald Trump
US Secretary of Labour Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving her post in the administration of President Donald Trump, the White House has said.
Chavez-DeRemer is the third woman to leave the Trump administration since March, when the president fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the wake of federal immigration raids in Minnesota that led to the deaths of two protesters. Trump also ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this month.
Chavez-DeRemer has done a “phenomenal job” protecting American workers and is set to “take a position in the private sector”, White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung said in a post on X late on Monday, announcing the labour secretary’s departure.
“Keith Sonderling will take on the role of Acting Secretary of Labor,” Cheung added, referring to the current deputy labour secretary.
While Cheung did not give a reason for Chavez-DeRemer’s departure, the New York Post reported in January that she was under investigation for “pursuing an ‘inappropriate’ relationship with a subordinate” and drinking in her office during the work day.
Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify the allegations.
From the beginning of her tenure, Chavez-DeRemer had some notable differences with other members of Trump’s inner circle.
She had voiced support for the pro-union Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), earning support for her nomination from some Democrats.
Her appointment was also seen as favoured by Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who notably spoke in support of Trump’s re-election campaign at the Republican National Convention in July 2024.
However, as the labour secretary, Chavez-DeRemer’s positions have more closely aligned with the Trump administration’s overall anti-regulatory policies, according to US media outlets. During her tenure as secretary, the Labor Department stalled on responding to calls for limits on silica exposure from Appalachian coal miners suffering from the occupational black lung disease.
Chavez-DeRemer is not the first top official to leave the Labor Department during Trump’s second term.
In August 2025, Trump fired the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Erika McEntarfer, who was appointed by previous President Joe Biden, after a report showed that hiring had slowed in July and was worse in May and June than had previously been reported.
Q&A
Why is Lori Chavez-DeRemer leaving her position as Labor Secretary?
Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving her role to take a position in the private sector, although no specific reason for her departure was provided by the White House.
Who will replace Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor Secretary?
Keith Sonderling, the current deputy labor secretary, will assume the role of Acting Secretary of Labor following Chavez-DeRemer's departure.
What controversies surrounded Lori Chavez-DeRemer during her tenure?
Chavez-DeRemer was reportedly under investigation for pursuing an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and for drinking in her office during work hours.
