{"id":4836,"date":"2026-06-30T01:12:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T01:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/06\/30\/trump-nominates-keith-sonderling-to-permanent-role-of-labor-secretary\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T01:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T01:12:58","slug":"trump-nominates-keith-sonderling-to-permanent-role-of-labor-secretary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4836","title":{"rendered":"Trump nominates Keith Sonderling to permanent role of labor secretary"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"ac937bd7-b06b-4e83-a899-8bb1f7cc2706\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A man speaks at a podium with the vice-presidential seal and a banner reading 'PROTECTING TAXPAY' visible\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/a54bbde8aebdf0ef2e1d564770f679739c6ea613\/1239_215_4371_3496\/master\/4371.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.9148936170213\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Keith Sonderling speaks at an event in Bangor, Maine, in May.<\/span> Photograph: Taylor Coester\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"ac937bd7-b06b-4e83-a899-8bb1f7cc2706\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Keith Sonderling speaks at an event in Bangor, Maine, in May.<\/span> Photograph: Taylor Coester\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Trump nominates Keith Sonderling to permanent role of labor secretary<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Sonderling is filling in as acting secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced she was leaving in April<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Donald Trump announced he is nominating Keith Sonderling to serve as US secretary of labor, a role he is currently filling as acting secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer\u2019s announced her departure in April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIt is my Great Honor to announce that I am nominating Keith E. Sonderling, the outstanding Acting United States Secretary of Labor, to be permanent,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social. \u201cKeith previously served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer and, during my First Term, worked at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Acting and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor\u2019s Wage and Hour Division.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Trump added: \u201cThroughout his career, Keith has proven his dedication to delivering strong results for the Hardworking People of our Country, and I know he will do an incredible job in his new role.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Sonderling thanked Trump in his own social media post: \u201cI am deeply grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence. Serving in both of President Trump\u2019s Administrations has been the greatest honor of my life. If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to continuing that service as Secretary of Labor and advancing the President\u2019s agenda on behalf of America\u2019s workers, families, unions, and job creators.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Sonderling made waves recently when he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/17\/trump-administration-state-fraud-claims\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">sent letters to 53 states and union territories <\/a> demanding they take action to \u201ccombat waste, fraud, and abuse\u201d within the unemployment insurance program and threatened to withhold administrative funds for the first time in history.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe are officially putting governors on notice,\u201dSonderling said on 17 June. \u201cThe American people will no longer tolerate the blatant waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars \u2013 no state should allow it either. If states allow it, they will suffer the consequences. This department is no longer afraid to use every lever available to ensure taxpayer money is protected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Sonderling <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/atrupar.com\/post\/3moibh3oabk2x\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">appeared<\/a> on Fox News to discuss the letters and claimed Democrat-led states \u2013 he singled out California, New York and Illinois \u2013 have the highest instances of fraud, but provided no evidence of the alleged fraud in unemployment systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI will essentially cut off the states\u2019 administrative funds and then they won\u2019t be able to administer this unemployment insurance due to the fraud,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In April, Chavez-DeRemer stepped down after a series of misconduct allegations, which prompted an internal investigation. The claims included having a sexual relationship with a member of her security team, sending her staff to pick up liquor and attempting to use business trips as excuses for personal travel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Chavez-DeRemer\u2019s husband, Shawn DeRemer, also faced a series of allegations, including having sexually assaulted two female staff members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Sonderling served at the US equal employment opportunity commission, and was later tapped by Trump to serve as deputy labor secretary. He also served as acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and acting under secretary of commerce for minority business development in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Michael Sainato contributed reporting<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/trump-administration\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Trump administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump%20nominates%20Keith%20Sonderling%20to%20permanent%20role%20of%20labor%20secretary&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/29\/trump-nominates-keith-sonderling-labor-secretary?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjun%2F29%2Ftrump-nominates-keith-sonderling-labor-secretary&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jun\/29\/trump-nominates-keith-sonderling-labor-secretary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-axwinp\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keith Sonderling speaks at an event in Bangor, Maine, in May. Photograph: Taylor Coester\/Reuters View image in fullscreen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4838,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4836\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}