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The Wire
Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal Judge blocks Trump from closing East Potomac Park golf course for now Trump asks Supreme Court to curb judges' power to void unlawful rules nationwide On tape: Richard Blumenthal says the Trump administration let $190 million in anti-human trafficking grants lapse On tape: Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican, on the House floor: the president never asked Congress before sending troops… Massie to force new House vote to end Trump's Iran war before he leaves in January Over 200 Democrats ask appeals court to strike down VA's abortion ban for veterans Kushner says U.S. is brokering Europe-Russia talks and planning next Ukraine round Blumenthal says Lutnick 'must go' over stalled Nvidia chip blacklist for Megaspeed NBC says Democrat Mary Peltola likely to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska On tape: Hakeem Jeffries: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick could face Intel Committee subpoenas over Nvidia scandal
Keith Sonderling
Photo: Department of Labor, Public domain

The Administration · The Cabinet

Keith Sonderling

Secretary of Labor

A Florida employment lawyer and former EEOC commissioner who rose from deputy to Labor Secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned, and who also runs the federal ethics office in an acting capacity.

Biography

Keith Sonderling was born in New York City in 1982 and built his career in Florida. 11 He earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Florida and a law degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2008, then joined the Florida law firm Gunster, where he became a partner practicing labor and employment law, mostly on the side of employers. 1 11 Florida Gov. Rick Scott put him on a judicial nominating commission for a state appeals court in 2012. 11

He came to Washington in Donald Trump's first term. From 2017 to 2020 he worked in the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division as senior policy advisor, deputy administrator and acting administrator. 1 2 He then served as a commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from September 2020 to August 2024, including a stretch as vice chair in 2020 and 2021. 1 2 He also taught at George Washington University. 5 After leaving the EEOC he led the Labor Department transition team for Trump's return to office. 1

The Senate confirmed him as Deputy Secretary of Labor, 53-46, in March 2025, putting him in charge of the department's daily operations, budget and personnel. 1 14 In the same period the White House gave him two extra acting jobs: director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and head of the Commerce Department's Minority Business Development Agency. 1 At the library agency he placed staff on leave, began cancelling grants and dismissed the whole advisory board, which led the American Library Association and a public employees' union to sue. 8

He became acting Labor Secretary on April 20, 2026, when Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned during an inspector general investigation into alleged misconduct; she disputed the allegations. 9 15 Trump announced his nomination on June 29, the Senate confirmed him 47-41 on September 30, and he was sworn in on October 2 in the Oval Office by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. 1 4 Since June 2026 he has also been acting director of the Office of Government Ethics. 1 2

This autumn Trump named him, in his ethics-office role, to a three-member committee examining whether there is cause to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook; her lawyers say the process is biased. 6 12 On November 6 he issued the department's statement on the October jobs report, citing 165,000 jobs added and unemployment of 4.1 percent. 3

In the job

The acts and events that have defined the post so far, oldest first.

  1. Became acting Labor Secretary when Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned; the White House said she was leaving for a private-sector job. 9 5

  2. Designated acting director of the Office of Government Ethics, a post he holds alongside the Labor Department. 1 2

  3. Trump announced he would nominate Sonderling as Labor Secretary. 1

  4. At his Senate confirmation hearing he said the department is collecting data from companies and unions on the use of artificial intelligence, and described a fraud task force he works on with Vice President JD Vance. 5

  5. Confirmed by the Senate, 47-41. 1 4 13

  6. Sworn in as the 31st Secretary of Labor by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the Oval Office. 1 2

  7. Trump named him, as acting ethics director, to a three-member committee of inquiry on Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, with Kevin Hassett and EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas; a closed hearing was set for November 5. 6

  8. Issued the department's statement on the October jobs report: 165,000 jobs added, unemployment 4.1 percent. 3

Disputes, and their side

What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.

  1. At his hearing to be deputy secretary, Democratic senators pressed him on how many Labor Department workers had been dismissed in the government-efficiency cuts. He said he did not know the number. 7

    Their side: Sonderling told senators that hiring and firing were handled by the department's human resources staff, which he did not yet oversee. 7

  2. The American Library Association and the union AFSCME sued over his actions as acting head of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, where he put staff on leave, began cancelling grants and dismissed the entire board. On May 1, 2025, Judge Richard Leon issued a narrow temporary order pausing further steps; in June he declined to issue a longer injunction. 8 10

    Their side: Government lawyers pointed to a March 14 executive order calling the agency unnecessary and argued the court lacked jurisdiction. 8

  3. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, opposed his confirmation, citing the department's repeal of an overtime-pay rule, a planned rule on independent contractors and mass dismissals in the office that polices discrimination by federal contractors. 5

    Their side: Sonderling told the committee his experience in private practice, teaching and government grounds his knowledge of labor law; Republican Sen. Rick Scott said he had steadied the department. 5

  4. Lawyers for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said the White House committee Sonderling sits on is biased, noting that another member had already said the president has cause to remove her. 12 6

    Their side: No public response from Sonderling found. Trump's memo creating the committee said it is his job to see that the laws are faithfully executed. 6

Career

  1. Lawyer at Gunster in Florida, becoming a partner in labor and employment law
  2. Member, later chairman, of the judicial nominating commission for Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal
  3. Labor Department Wage and Hour Division: senior policy advisor, deputy administrator, acting administrator
  4. Commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (vice chair 2020-2021)
  5. Led the Trump transition team for the Labor Department
  6. Deputy Secretary of Labor
  7. Acting director, Institute of Museum and Library Services; acting head of the Minority Business Development Agency
  8. Acting Secretary of Labor
  9. Acting Director, U.S. Office of Government Ethics
  10. Secretary of Labor

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Keith Sonderling. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. U.S. Department of Labor, Keith Sonderling sworn in as 31st US Secretary of Labor, Oct. 9, 2026
  2. U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary (official biography), Nov. 2026
  3. U.S. Department of Labor, Secretary Sonderling statement on October jobs report, Nov. 6, 2026
  4. Federal News Network, Senate approves Trump's pick to lead the Labor Department, Oct. 2026
  5. AP (via WSLS), Trump's Labor nominee touts experience and fraud prevention as he seeks confirmation, July 16, 2026
  6. AP (via PBS News), Trump establishes committee to investigate Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook in latest effort to fire her, Oct. 9, 2026
  7. HR Dive, DOGE chaos overshadows standard DOL fare at Keith Sonderling's deputy security hearing, Feb. 27, 2025
  8. AP (via ClickOrlando), Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from dismantling library services agency, May 1, 2025
  9. Bloomberg Law, Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Resigns During Internal Probe (2), April 20, 2026
  10. Publishers Weekly, Judge Denies Preliminary Injunction in ALA v. Sonderling IMLS Case, June 2025
  11. Wikipedia, Keith Sonderling, Nov. 13, 2026
  12. AP (via Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Lawyers for Federal Reserve's Lisa Cook say White House hearing set up by Trump is biased, Oct. 2026
  13. U.S. Senate, Roll Call Votes, 119th Congress, 2nd Session (vote 256: Sonderling confirmed 47-41, Sept. 30), Sept. 30, 2026
  14. U.S. Senate, Roll Call Votes, 119th Congress, 1st Session (vote 119: Sonderling confirmed as deputy secretary 53-46, March 12), March 12, 2025
  15. E&E News, Zeldin on firm ground as Cabinet ousters continue, April 24, 2026

File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.