On Monday, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced her resignation from the Trump Administration to explore opportunities in the private sector.
White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed her decision in a statement shared on X, noting that she is the third Cabinet member to leave the current administration.
Cheung praised Chavez-DeRemer’s contributions, stating, “She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives” here.
Following her departure, Keith Sonderling, who served as her deputy, will step in as acting secretary until a permanent replacement is appointed. The specific timing of her resignation and details about her new role have not yet been disclosed.
Chavez-DeRemer’s tenure was overshadowed by an ongoing inspector general investigation into allegations of misconduct, including misuse of department resources and an inappropriate relationship with a security detail member. This led to the resignation of two of her senior staff members in March.
Furthermore, a security staff member, Brian Sloan, has also resigned amid these accusations. Reports indicate at least one other aide was dismissed in connection with the investigation, according to the New York Post.
Before joining the Trump Administration, Chavez-DeRemer served as mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon, from 2011 to 2019.
In 2022, she was elected to Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, where she served on several committees, but lost her reelection bid in 2024. Following Trump’s 2024 presidential victory, he nominated her for Labor Secretary on November 24, a decision influenced by significant support from labor organizations like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
