WASHINGTON – Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has officially departed from President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, according to a statement from the White House on Monday. Her exit follows numerous allegations regarding the misuse of her position, which include claims of having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and consuming alcohol while on duty.
Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation marks the third departure from Trump’s Cabinet in recent months, succeeding the firings of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March and Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this month.
In contrast to other recent Cabinet exits, the announcement of Chavez-DeRemer’s departure came from White House communications director Steven Cheung via the social media platform X, rather than from President Trump himself.
“Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector,” Cheung stated. “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.”
Keith Sonderling, currently the deputy labor secretary, is set to step in as acting labor secretary following her departure. The news outlet NOTUS was the first to report on Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation.
Allegations and Investigations Surrounding Chavez-DeRemer
Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation comes on the heels of a series of investigations that began surfacing in January. Reports emerged indicating that the Labor Department’s inspector general was scrutinizing the conduct of Chavez-DeRemer and her team.
A recent report from The New York Times detailed that Chavez-DeRemer and her top aides, along with family members, regularly communicated with young staffers via personal messages. Allegations also surfaced about her husband and father exchanging texts with female staff, with some being instructed to “pay attention” to her family.
These findings originated from a broader investigation initiated after the New York Post reported a complaint claiming Chavez-DeRemer had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Additional accusations included allegations of drinking on the job and misusing resources for personal travel.
Initially, both the White House and Labor Department dismissed the reports as unfounded. However, as more information became available, these denials grew less emphatic, and speculation about her job security increased.
Throughout the investigation, at least four officials from the Labor Department have lost their positions, including Chavez-DeRemer’s former chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, as well as a member of her security detail with whom she was allegedly involved.
Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) commented on her resignation, stating, “I think the secretary demonstrated a lot of wisdom in resigning.”
Chavez-DeRemer’s Background and Impact
Lori Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet with a vote of 67-32 in March 2025, following her tenure as a House GOP lawmaker representing a competitive Oregon district. Notably, she garnered support from various labor unions, a rarity for a Republican, although she lost her reelection bid in November 2024.
During her time in Congress, she advocated for legislation aimed at easing the process for unionization nationally and worked to protect Social Security benefits for public-sector employees. Some prominent unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, supported her nomination for Labor Secretary, viewing it as a strategic move to engage labor-affiliated voters.
Despite the initial optimism regarding her appointment, many labor leaders were skeptical about her commitment to a pro-union agenda, especially in an administration characterized by significant federal employee layoffs.
Chavez-DeRemer’s Role in Deregulation
Outside of the recent controversies, Chavez-DeRemer played a critical role in advancing the Trump administration’s deregulatory efforts. Notably, her department pursued the revision or repeal of over 60 workplace regulations deemed outdated, including minimum wage standards for home health care workers and safety protocols for mining operations.
These proposed rollbacks drew widespread criticism from union leaders and workplace safety advocates. Additionally, during her tenure, the administration halted millions of dollars in international grants aimed at combating child labor and human trafficking, which had previously contributed to a significant decrease in child labor worldwide.
The Labor Department oversees a wide range of responsibilities, from reporting the U.S. unemployment rate to regulating workplace health and safety standards, and investigating disputes related to minimum wage, child labor, and union activities.
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Associated Press writers Steven Sloan, Will Weissert in Washington, and Cathy Bussewitz in New York contributed to this report.
