To High Praise and Hallelujahs, Trump Nominates

On Monday, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to announce his nomination of Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling for the place of Secretary of Labor.

It is my Great Honor to announce that I’m nominating Keith E. Sonderling, the excellent Acting United States Secretary of Labor, to be everlasting. Keith beforehand served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and, during my First Term, labored at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. Throughout his profession, Keith has confirmed his dedication to delivering strong outcomes for the Hardworking People of our Country, and I do know he’ll do an unimaginable job in his new function. Thank you for your consideration to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP 

After the trainwreck that was former Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump has put forth a nominee that not only has a confirmed report of being pro-business and pro-independent skilled, but like others in Trump’s cupboard, Sonderling is aware of how to articulate and execute the president’s agenda without making it about himself.

As RedState reported, in January, an Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation was opened on Chavez-DeRemer, accusing her of journey fraud, having an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, and ingesting on the job. Chavez-DeRemer resigned as Secretary of Labor in April, under this cloud of scandal and misconduct. The investigation was concluding around the time that Chavez-DeRemer exited the function. 

Read More: Under a Cloud of Scandal, Embattled Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigns

Top-Level Labor Dept. Staffers Placed on Admin. Leave Pending OIG Investigation of Sec. Chavez-DeRemer

Chavez-DeRemer was a controversial decide from the start. She had strong pro-labor union leanings and was backed by Teamsters President Sean O’Brien. When Chavez-DeRemer served Oregon as a Congresswoman, she was a co-sponsor of the PRO Act, which sought to get rid of impartial contracting and right-to-work legal guidelines, while pushing employees into pressured unionization. Her nomination was the antithesis of President Trump’s pro-business and pro-freedom working people’s agenda, but thanks to her union patronage, she obtained the nice and cozy embrace and vote of a number of Republicans AND Democrats in the Senate, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), former Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). 

Sonderling’s report is strictly the other. Sonderling served in President Trump’s first time period as Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Labor Division. In that function, Sonderling was instrumental in the formation and language integrated in the 2020 Trump Independent Contractor rule, which protected the function of impartial contractors, permitting them to preserve their standing, freedom, and flexibility. In 2021, the Biden administration rescinded this rule and instituted its own. After Trump gained the election in 2024, Sonderling labored to stop enforcement of the 2024 Biden impartial contractor rule, and helped to craft the 2026 Trump Independent Contractor rule which follows the framework of Trump’s 2021 rule, but incorporates modifications to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA).

As Acting Secretary, Sonderling has strongly advocated for Trump’s pro-business and pro-worker agenda, touting the manufacturing jobs that have been returned to the U.S., and has labored tirelessly to beef up and increase apprenticeships through the U.S. Department of Labor for small companies and private-sector issues. Under Biden’s DOL, apprenticeships have been issued through the major labor unions just like the AFL-CIO and SEIU, successfully cutting out any non-public sector alternatives. Sonderling has also long been a champion for outlined benefit pension plan sponsors to have the option to use group annuities to shield pension advantages through pension risk transfers, and to enable employers to incorporate retirement plan choices like cryptocurrency property and non-public credit funds.

But most pivotal, Sonderling is working hand-in-hand with the Fraud Task Force to eradicate the rampant unemployment insurance coverage fraud.

Before receiving the everlasting nomination, Sonderling attracted national consideration through his oversight of unemployment insurance coverage applications. Earlier this month, he despatched letters to officers in 53 states and U.S. territories. Those letters requested stronger motion against waste, fraud, and abuse within unemployment insurance coverage systems.

In the correspondence, Sonderling warned that the Department of Labor might withhold administrative funding from jurisdictions that failed to handle recognized issues. He said the division would use every obtainable authority to shield taxpayer funds. The effort also goals to strengthen oversight of unemployment insurance coverage applications.

WATCH:

ACTING SECRETARY OF LABOR KEITH SONDERLING: Someone with a delivery date in the yr 2154 was truly accredited for unemployment insurance coverage. That’s how rampant the fraud acquired.

We’re shutting it down and prosecuting the people who stole taxpayer money.@Sonderling47 pic.twitter.com/XmY1U0WEvk

— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) May 26, 2026

Unlike the particular person who held his function during the Biden administration, Sonderling has been energetic in talking out against and serving to to institute insurance policies to battle antisemitism in the office.

Congratulations, @Sonderling47!

Your important work combating antisemitism in the office, growing the financial system, and spurring historic job creation in America proves that @POTUS completely selected the correct particular person to lead the Department of Labor.

We urge the Senate to swiftly… pic.twitter.com/zyXBuzb5bB

— RJC (@RJC) June 29, 2026

Congratulations, Sonderling47!

Your important work combating antisemitism in the office, growing the financial system, and spurring historic job creation in America proves that @POTUS completely selected the correct particular person to lead the Department of Labor.

We urge the Senate to swiftly affirm President Trump’s nomination of Keith Sonderling to lead @USDOL

Sonderling’s nomination has obtained high reward from current and former members of Congress. Chairman of the Senate Health, Employment, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) had nothing but plaudits for Sonderling. 

Cassidy posted on X:

Congratulations to Keith Sonderling on his nomination to be Secretary of Labor. I take pleasure in working with him, and I admire his considerate management at @USDOL. He is the sort of pro-worker chief that Americans deserve. I look ahead to listening to from him before the HELP…

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) June 29, 2026

Congratulations to Keith Sonderling on his nomination to be Secretary of Labor. I take pleasure in working with him, and I admire his considerate management at @USDOL. He is the sort of pro-worker chief that Americans deserve. I look ahead to listening to from him before the HELP Committee.

Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) also gave Sonderling high marks, affirming his American worker-first report.

Outstanding selection by President Trump. Keith Sonderling has a confirmed report of placing American employees and job creators first. The Department of Labor shall be in wonderful fingers! pic.twitter.com/XXy9UXwQWG

— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) June 30, 2026

Sonderling was also praised by business leaders. 

An completely excellent selection by President Trump to lead the Department of Labor.

Labor/workforce coverage is full of people who declare to battle for employees, but in actuality only look out for particular pursuits making an attempt to enrich and empower themselves. But not @Sonderling47.… https://t.co/Mg0j05P7N6

— Akash Chougule (@AkashJC) June 30, 2026

An completely excellent selection by President Trump to lead the Department of Labor. 

Labor/workforce coverage is full of people who declare to battle for employees, but in actuality only look out for particular pursuits making an attempt to enrich and empower themselves. But not @Sonderling47. 

Keith has spent his whole profession truly preventing for the rights, freedoms, and well-being of employees – regardless of whether or not they’re union, non-union, freelance, entrepreneur, or in any other case. 

He has a demonstrated observe report of uplifting employees by placing free markets and equality under the law first. When that occurs, no one can compete with America’s employees. They are an engine of progress, manufacturing, innovation, and upward mobility for themselves and tens of hundreds of thousands of others. 

The Senate ought to affirm Keith Sonderling for Labor Secretary unanimously.

As nicely as employer and employee organizations, including the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE).

Keith is a clever chief who understands the wants of working households and designs insurance policies that help them.

He shall be an wonderful Secretary. https://t.co/P1rYdEyDqw

— Jim O’Neill (@regardthefrost) June 30, 2026

NCAE sang Sonderling’s praises to the rafters in this X thread:

We are keen to help Acting Secretary Sonderling’s nomination, and to work with the Trump Administration to secure the broad bipartisan help in the Senate that his nomination deserves.

— NCAE (@NCAEonline) June 30, 2026

At every step in his profession, Acting Secretary Sonderling has demonstrated that he’s not only a good friend to the American farmer, but that he’s also a champion for our agricultural financial system. From serving to to spearhead the development of the Interim Final Rule Secretary, to his stewardship of the rule’s implementation, NCAE members have always been assured that we had an ally in Acting Secretary Sonderling. 

We are keen to help Acting Secretary Sonderling’s nomination, and to work with the Trump Administration to secure the broad bipartisan help in the Senate that his nomination deserves.

Sonderling responded with grace to President Trump’s nomination and reposted the president’s Truth saying:

I’m deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence.

Serving in both of President Trump’s Administrations has been the best honor of my life.

If confirmed by the Senate, I look ahead to persevering with that service as Secretary of Labor and advancing the… pic.twitter.com/pW4vucF8rI

— Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling (@Sonderling47) June 29, 2026

I’m deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence. 

Serving in both of President Trump’s Administrations has been the best honor of my life.  

If confirmed by the Senate, I look ahead to persevering with that service as Secretary of Labor and advancing the President’s agenda on behalf of America’s employees, households, unions, and job creators.

For his nomination to Deputy Secretary of Labor in 2025, Sonderling was confirmed along social gathering traces. With sure Senate Republicans in open insurrection against President Trump, and Senate Democrats unchanged from their typical TDS-riddled obstructionism, we are going to see how long it takes for Sonderling’s nomination to transfer toward a affirmation listening to.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will decide the destiny of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must preserve control of both chambers of Congress.

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