Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to Step Down
The White House announced her departure via social media, with Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling expected to serve as acting secretary.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Apr 21, 2026
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned Monday following a series of internal and congressional investigations into allegations of professional misconduct and abuse of power.
The White House announced the departure via social media, stating that Chavez-DeRemer would transition to the private sector. White House communications director Steven Cheung said Keith Sonderling, the current deputy labor secretary, will serve as acting secretary.
The resignation follows a month-long inquiry by the Labor Department’s inspector general. According to reports from the New York Times and The Associated Press, the investigation examined allegations that Chavez-DeRemer engaged in an affair with a subordinate on her security detail and used department resources, including staff and travel funds, for personal purposes.
Per the reports, investigators also reviewed text messages involving Chavez-DeRemer and her family members. Internal reports and witness testimony suggested that the secretary’s husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, and her father sent inappropriate messages to young female staff members.
Court and department records indicate that Dr. DeRemer was recently barred from the Labor Department’s headquarters following accusations of unwanted sexual advances, according to the NY Times and AP. While prosecutors stated they would not pursue criminal charges, three separate hostile work environment claims were filed with the department’s civil rights office in connection with the matter.
In a statement posted to her personal social media account, Chavez-DeRemer denied the allegations, characterizing them as efforts by "deep state actors" to undermine the administration’s mission. Her attorney, Nick Oberheiden, stated Monday that the resignation was not due to any legal violations, noting that no such findings have been established.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, was confirmed in March 2025 with notable support from several major labor unions. During her tenure, she oversaw a significant deregulatory agenda, including the proposal to repeal or rewrite more than 60 workplace regulations involving mine safety, construction site lighting and minimum wage protections for certain healthcare workers.
The inspector general’s final report was nearing completion at the time of her resignation, and Chavez-DeRemer had been scheduled for a formal interview with investigators later this week.
Sonderling, who now takes over as acting secretary, is a labor lawyer who has served in various government roles over the last decade.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.