Senate Confirms Trump Pick Keith Sonderling to Lead Labor Department
The Senate has confirmed President Trump’s nominee Keith Sonderling as secretary of labor, formally placing the longtime labor-policy official in charge of the Department of Labor after he spent more than five months leading the agency on an acting basis.
Sonderling was confirmed Wednesday night in a 47-41 vote. All senators voting in favor were Republicans, while all votes against his confirmation came from Democrats. Twelve senators did not vote.
President Trump nominated Sonderling for the permanent position in June after former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer left the administration in April. Sonderling had already been serving as deputy labor secretary and was designated acting secretary following her departure.
The confirmation gives Sonderling permanent control of a department responsible for enforcing federal laws governing wages, workplace safety, employee benefits and numerous other employment issues. The agency is also playing an increasingly important role as artificial intelligence and other technologies reshape the American workforce.
Sonderling brings years of experience in labor and employment policy to the position. During President Trump’s first administration, he served as acting administrator and deputy administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division before becoming a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Before returning to the Labor Department during Trump’s second term, Sonderling had served on the EEOC from 2020 until 2024. He previously worked as a labor and employment attorney in Florida and taught employment law as an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School.
Republicans supporting Sonderling highlighted his experience and said they expect him to focus on protecting workers while encouraging economic growth and job creation. Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy previously said Sonderling was qualified for the position and capable of helping American workers navigate changes caused by artificial intelligence.
Democrats opposed the nomination and raised concerns about the Trump administration’s broader labor agenda. Some Democratic senators and labor groups have criticized policies supported by Sonderling involving worker classification, wage regulations and other workplace protections.
Sonderling has emphasized workforce development, modernization of federal labor regulations and preparing American workers for the growing influence of artificial intelligence. He has also discussed expanding retirement investment opportunities and improving access to portable workplace benefits for independent workers.
The Senate had earlier voted 53-47 to invoke cloture on Sonderling’s nomination before holding the final confirmation vote Wednesday evening. The confirmation was among the chamber’s final major pieces of business before senators left Washington ahead of the November midterm elections.
With his confirmation complete, Sonderling becomes the 31st U.S. secretary of labor and takes permanent control of an agency he has already been running since April. His elevation also gives President Trump a confirmed Cabinet official to carry out the administration’s labor and workforce policies as it moves through the second half of 2026.