Senate Confirms Keith Sonderling as U.S. Secretary of Labor -- Occupational Health & Safety

Official portrait of Keith Sonderling, U.S. Secretary of Labor, in a suit and blue tie in front of the U.S. Department of Labor seal and American flag.

Senate Confirms Keith Sonderling as U.S. Secretary of Labor

Sonderling will lead the Department of Labor, which oversees federal workplace safety and health enforcement through OSHA.

By Danielle Naidu
Oct 01, 2026

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Keith Sonderling as secretary of labor, placing him at the helm of the federal department responsible for administering and enforcing workplace safety, wage and other labor laws.

The Senate confirmed Sonderling on Sept. 30 in a 47-41 vote, with 12 senators not voting.

Sonderling had served as acting secretary of labor since April 20, 2026, after previously serving as deputy secretary. President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as labor secretary on June 29.

As labor secretary, Sonderling leads the Department of Labor, which includes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. DOL administers and enforces federal laws covering workplace safety and health, wages, and other worker protections.

Sonderling previously served as a commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 2020 to 2024. Earlier in his career, he served at DOL as acting administrator and deputy administrator of the Wage and Hour Division from 2017 to 2020.

Before entering government service, Sonderling was a partner at the law firm Gunster, where his work included labor and employment matters. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Nova Southeastern University.

About the Author

Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.

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