Keith Sonderling confirmed as Trump’s Labor Secretary: Who he is and what his career looks like

The Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as the new Secretary of Labor. Sonderling, 43, was confirmed by a vote of 47 in favor and 41 against. All Republicans voted in favor and all Democrats voted against, with twelve senators absent from the session.

Sonderling had been serving in the position on an interim basis since April 20, when President Donald Trump appointed him following the resignation of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who stepped down amid an investigation into misconduct. The president formally nominated him for the permanent position on June 29.

In terms of his work, he has focused on combating unemployment insurance fraud, training workers and adapting the labor market to the changes brought about by artificial intelligence.

"I am honored to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 31st Secretary of Labor. President Trump is the greatest President for the American Worker, and I’m grateful for his trust and confidence in me to lead the U.S. Department of Labor," Sonderling said after being confirmed.

"America’s workers and job creators are the greatest in the world. I will work every day to ensure they have a Department of Labor that is accountable, effective and responsive to their needs," he added.

Sonderling's confirmation also comes at a time of relative labor market strength. Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell to 197,000 in the last week of September, near its lowest level in 57 years, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%. In addition, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the economy added 162,000 jobs in August, exceeding market expectations.

Who is Keith Sonderling?

Before becoming Secretary of Labor, Sonderling had already held high-level positions in the federal government during Trump's first term.

Between 2017 and 2020, he worked in the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, where he served as acting administrator and later as deputy administrator. In September 2020, Trump appointed him commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and also appointed him vice chair of the commission, a position he held until January 2021. He remained a commissioner until August 2024, under the Biden administration.

With Trump's return to the White House, Sonderling was nominated and confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Labor, a position he held until Chavez-DeRemer's resignation.