Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as labor secretary by 47-41

The Republican-led U.S. Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling late on Wednesday as the new secretary of labor, by 47 votes to 41, along party lines.

Sonderling had held the post in an acting capacity since April, when his predecessor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned following allegations of misconduct — including drinking alcohol at work, assigning personal errands to staff, and an inspector general’s report describing a “toxic, intimidating and humiliating” workplace. Chavez-DeRemer rejected the allegations, attributing them to “deep state actors”.

Sonderling has previously held several roles at the Department of Labor and served on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); his nomination was backed by Republican lawmakers and business groups, which cited his experience in drafting rules favourable to trade associations — such as a proposal to make it easier to treat workers as independent contractors.

Unions, advocacy groups and some Democratic lawmakers opposed him, noting that Sonderling voted against a 2024 EEOC rule on legal protections for workers who are pregnant or have had an abortion, and in April put forward a proposal that would shield companies from liability for contractors’ violations of wage laws.

The Department of Labor is now moving towards finalising policies on wage laws, employee benefits and immigration, as Reuters reports on the Senate vote.