The vibes in the Senate were pretty split this Wednesday. Just before heading out to campaign for the upcoming midterm elections, the Senate officially confirmed Keith Sonderling to lead the Department of Labor in a 47-41 vote.
Sonderling isn't exactly new to the scene. He’s been serving as the acting secretary since April and has a long history with the department, including a stint as a senior advisor during President Trump’s first term and time as a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He also spent time as an adjunct professor at George Washington University, where he taught the very laws he’s now in charge of enforcing. He stepped back into the fold during Trump’s second term, landing the deputy secretary role back in March of last year.
He’s stepping into this role after Lori Chavez-DeRemer left the position for a private sector gig following a wave of allegations that she abused her power.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the committee that pushed this nomination forward, is highkey confident that Sonderling is the right fit. He mentioned that Sonderling will focus on protecting workers, job creation, and helping the workforce deal with all the shifts coming from AI.
But, real talk, not everyone was feeling it. Democrats were hard against the confirmation. Their main beef? Disagreements with the department’s current policies, specifically regarding how it’s managing some Department of Education grant programs while the White House tries to make good on the campaign promise to shut down the Department of Education for good.
Sen. Patty Murray didn't hold back during the hearings, expressing major concerns that this confirmation signals a push to cut overtime protections and undermine unions.
Why it matters
The Department of Labor is the main engine for making sure your workplace is fair, safe, and healthy. With Sonderling confirmed, he now holds the keys to how the government enforces labor laws and navigates the massive changes AI is bringing to the job market.
