Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns; White House Says She'll Go to Private Sector

Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer is leaving the Trump administration, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung announced on X at 5:12 p.m. Monday. She will be "leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector," Cheung wrote. Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling will become acting secretary.

Chavez-DeRemer was sworn in on March 11, 2025 as the 30th United States Secretary of Labor, serving for 13 months.

The announcements

Cheung did not acknowledge any investigation or controversy in his post. He said Chavez-DeRemer had "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."

Forty-one minutes later, Chavez-DeRemer posted her own statement on X:

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in this historic Administration and work for the greatest President of my lifetime. At the Department of Labor, I am proud that we made significant progress in advancing President Trump's mission to bridge the gap between business and labor and always put the American worker first. [...] While my time serving in the Administration comes to a conclusion, it doesn't mean I will stop fighting for American workers. I am looking forward to what the future has in store as I depart for the private sector.

Neither statement mentioned an investigation.

What outlets have reported

NPR, Time, NBC News, and other outlets reported Monday that the resignation followed a months-long investigation by the Labor Department's Office of Inspector General. Those reports describe allegations including an affair with a subordinate on her security detail, drinking on the job, and use of department resources for personal travel. At least four senior Labor Department officials, including her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, had been forced out as the investigation progressed, according to the reporting.

NBC News also reported that Chavez-DeRemer's husband had been barred from Labor Department headquarters after two female employees accused him of sexual assault; prosecutors declined to bring charges.

Neither the Labor Department nor the White House has publicly confirmed the existence or scope of the OIG investigation. The department's inspector general page does not list an active investigation into the secretary as of publication.

Succession

Keith Sonderling, the deputy secretary of labor, becomes acting secretary effective immediately. Sonderling was confirmed by the Senate on March 12, 2025 as the 38th deputy secretary. The role functions as the department's chief operating officer; the Labor Department has a budget of roughly $14 billion and about 16,000 employees.

Timeline