The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Labor, acting just before lawmakers left Washington to campaign for the midterm elections.
Keith Sonderling was approved by a 47-41 vote. He has served as acting labor secretary since April and has held several positions within the department throughout his career.
Trump selected Sonderling after the White House announced that Lori Chavez-DeRemer was leaving the secretary’s post for a position in the private sector.
Her departure came after multiple allegations that she had misused the authority of her office.
Sonderling previously worked as a senior adviser at the Labor Department during Trump’s first term. He later served as a Republican member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
He also taught labor laws enforced by the department as an adjunct professor at George Washington University.
Sonderling returned to the department during Trump’s second term and won Senate confirmation as deputy secretary in March of last year.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Sonderling’s qualifications were evident when the committee he chairs voted to send the 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.
Democrats opposed the nomination, pointing to Labor Department policies they criticized, including its handling of certain Department of Education grant programs.
The issue has emerged as Trump pursues his campaign promise to eliminate the Department of Education altogether.
The Labor Department is responsible for enforcing federal labor laws and protecting 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.
