Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as labor secretary

The Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as labor secretary in a party-line 47-41 vote on September 30, 2026. Sonderling, who served as acting secretary since April 2026, succeeds Lori Chavez-DeRemer following her resignation amid allegations of power abuse and a toxic work environment. While business groups and Republicans praise Sonderling's experience, Democrats oppose his confirmation, warning that his leadership will undermine unions and strip overtime protections.

Senate confirmation vote

• ▪The confirmation vote of Keith Sonderling on September 30, 2026, served as the Senate's final order of business before recessing to campaign for the November 3, 2026, midterm elections
• ▪All Senate Republicans present voted to confirm Keith Sonderling on September 30, 2026, while all present Democrats voted against the nomination
• ▪The United States Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as the Secretary of Labor on September 30, 2026, in a party-line 47-41 vote

Support for Sonderling's confirmation

• ▪Senator Bill Cassidy supported Keith Sonderling, stating confidence that Sonderling would protect workers, help businesses create jobs, and navigate artificial intelligence changes
• ▪Neil Bradley of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce supported Keith Sonderling's confirmation, stating Sonderling's leadership would uphold the Department of Labor's mission and foster economic growth

Opposition to Sonderling's confirmation

• ▪Senator Patty Murray opposed Keith Sonderling's confirmation, stating it would strip worker overtime protections, undercut unions, and benefit giant corporations
• ▪Senate Democrats opposed Keith Sonderling's confirmation, citing disagreements with Trump administration policies such as the Department of Labor's management of some Department of Education grant programs

Keith Sonderling's professional background

• ▪Keith Sonderling served as the acting labor secretary starting in April 2026 and was previously confirmed as deputy labor secretary in March 2025
• ▪Keith Sonderling previously served as a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as a senior advisor in the Department of Labor

Resignation of Lori Chavez-DeRemer

• ▪Keith Sonderling succeeded Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned as the United States Secretary of Labor in April 2026
• ▪A 44-page Department of Labor inspector general report issued in September 2026 detailed a toxic, intimidating, and humiliating work environment under Lori Chavez-DeRemer
• ▪Lori Chavez-DeRemer's resignation in April 2026 followed allegations of power abuse and investigations into members of her family
• ▪The September 2026 Department of Labor inspector general report noted that Lori Chavez-DeRemer and her chief of staff grew to distrust Keith Sonderling

Debatable claims

• ▪The Senate was right to confirm Keith Sonderling as Labor Secretary
• ▪Expanding federal overtime pay protections does more harm than good