CA, US & World
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Misconduct Investigation
A SUDDEN EXIT FOR THE NATION'S LABOR CHIEF
WASHINGTON — Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced her resignation from the Trump administration on Monday, citing a move to the private sector. The departure comes at a turbulent time for the Department of Labor, as internal investigations into allegations of misconduct have plagued Chavez-DeRemer’s brief tenure.
White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed that Keith Sonderling will serve as the acting secretary. While the administration praised Chavez-DeRemer for "putting the American worker first," her exit marks the third high-profile Cabinet departure in recent weeks, following the exits of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
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INVESTIGATIONS AND ALLEGATIONS
Despite the official "private sector" narrative, the Labor Department has been under a cloud of scrutiny for months. The Inspector General’s Office has been investigating several complaints against the former secretary, including:
* PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES: Allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a member of her security detail.
* MISUSE OF STAFF: Claims that staff members were tasked with personal errands, such as purchasing liquor and coordinating travel to UFC fights and concerts under the guise of official business.
* OFFICE CONDUCT: Previous reports indicated her husband was banned from the department’s headquarters following sexual assault allegations, though a criminal probe into that matter was ultimately closed.
Chavez-DeRemer’s legal team has dismissed the claims as "biased and absurd," maintaining that her focus remained entirely on the President’s mission to bridge the gap between business and labor.
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A DEPARTMENT IN FLUX
Chavez-DeRemer leaves behind a department that has seen its workforce slashed by nearly 25% since late 2024. Under her leadership, the agency moved to repeal more than 60 workplace regulations deemed obsolete, including minimum wage requirements for home health care workers and safety standards in the mining and construction industries.
The transition to Acting Secretary Sonderling comes as the administration continues its aggressive push for deregulation and workforce reduction across the federal government. For now, the "gold standard" data-tracking at the Bureau of Labor Statistics remains in a state of upheaval following the recent firing of its commissioner.
As the administration looks for a permanent replacement, the focus remains on whether the department can maintain its mission amidst a shrinking staff and ongoing ethical questions at the top.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
April 20, 2026
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