Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Misconduct Probe

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned Monday amid an ongoing internal misconduct investigation, marking another high-profile departure from President Donald Trump’s administration.

According to officials, Chavez-DeRemer will leave her role and transition to the private sector. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling is expected to step in as acting head of the United States Department of Labor.

The resignation follows a months-long probe led by Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito, which examined allegations of misconduct involving the secretary and several senior aides. Multiple staffers had already departed the department during the investigation.

A whistleblower complaint first brought forward earlier this year alleged a range of issues, including workplace misconduct, improper travel practices, and an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail. Additional claims suggested the existence of an alcohol stash in her office and the use of taxpayer-funded travel for personal purposes.

Chavez-DeRemer has denied wrongdoing, and her attorney said she “strongly disputes” the allegations. He added that her decision to step down was made to allow the administration to remain focused on its policy agenda.

The investigation expanded over several months, reportedly involving interviews with dozens of staff and scrutiny of internal communications. Some aides were accused of shielding the secretary from internal oversight and pressuring junior employees.

The situation also drew attention on Capitol Hill, with Chuck Grassley launching a parallel inquiry into the matter.

Despite the controversy, the White House publicly praised Chavez-DeRemer’s tenure, highlighting her work on labor policies, workforce development, and economic initiatives.

Her departure makes her the third cabinet-level official to exit the administration this year, following earlier leadership changes across other departments.