Keith Sonderling appeared before the Senate for confirmation as Labor Secretary on Thursday, having already served as acting secretary since April. He replaced Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whose departure from the position followed multiple allegations of abuse of power. Sonderling highlighted his extensive background in labor matters, noting his previous service as a senior advisor at the department during Trump’s first term, his role as a Republican member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and his work as an adjunct professor teaching labor law at George Washington University. He was previously confirmed as deputy secretary in March of last year.
The hearing proceeded with less antagonism than some other confirmation proceedings during Trump’s second term, though significant policy disagreements emerged. Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., voiced strong opposition to Sonderling’s record, citing the department’s rescission of a Biden-era overtime pay rule that the department had projected would have extended overtime protections to approximately 4 million lower-wage salary workers. She also criticized the department’s pursuit of a new rule governing employee versus independent contractor classification, arguing it would enable large corporations to reclassify workers in ways that reduce labor costs. Additionally, Murray objected to the department’s termination of most staff in the office responsible for protecting workers from discrimination by federal contractors.
Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida expressed strong support for Sonderling’s nomination, characterizing him as clearly qualified and crediting him with providing stability and consistent leadership at the department following Chavez-DeRemer’s departure. Scott stated that Sonderling is committed to making America an attractive employment destination.
Democratic senators raised concerns about the transfer of certain Department of Education grant programs to the Labor Department as part of the administration’s broader initiative to eliminate the Education Department entirely. Sonderling explained that Education Department staff have been assigned to Labor to make policy decisions while Labor handles fund dispersal logistics, citing the rapid distribution of $1.5 billion in grants on July 1 as an example of operational efficiency. He stated that states have responded positively to this arrangement.
The hearing also addressed artificial intelligence’s effects on workers. Sonderling characterized current discourse about AI’s impact as overly pessimistic, driven by consultants and technology companies, and suggested the department believes AI will ultimately enhance worker productivity and workplace safety. He also emphasized his work with Vice President JD Vance on fraud prevention, promoting a “verify first and pay later” approach to unemployment insurance claims and citing Alabama’s centralized verification system as achieving low fraud rates.
Originally reported by AP News. Read the full story →