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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
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Photo: Shawn T Moore, U.S. Department of Labor, Public domain

The Administration · Out the door

Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Former Secretary of Labor Out the door

One-term Oregon congresswoman who served 13 months as Labor secretary and resigned in April 2026 during an inspector general inquiry that later found policy violations and a hostile workplace.

Why they left: She resigned on April 20, 2026 while the department's inspector general was investigating misconduct complaints against her; the White House said she was leaving for a private-sector job. 2 Now: According to Wikipedia, she joined the board of the Log Cabin Republicans and by August 2026 was a communications adviser to Think Big, a group that promotes data centers; this was not confirmed in a second source. 1

Biography

Lori Chavez-DeRemer was born in Santa Clara, California, and built her political career in Happy Valley, Oregon, where she was a city councilor and then mayor until 2019. 1 She won a U.S. House seat in 2022 and lost it in 2024. 1 In Congress she was one of the few Republicans to back the PRO Act, a bill to make union organizing easier, and her nomination was backed by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien. 2

The Senate confirmed her 67-32 on March 10, 2025. 1 NPR reported she was far less visible than other Cabinet members and spent much of her time on a listening tour outside Washington. 2 In January 2026 it emerged that the department's inspector general was examining complaints about her conduct; three of her closest aides left their jobs before she resigned on April 20, 2026. 2

The inspector general's report, released September 3, 2026, found a hostile work environment in her office and several policy violations but did not find she broke any law. 3 4 Her deputy, Keith Sonderling, became acting secretary and was sworn in as secretary on October 2, 2026. 2 6

In the job

What happened while Lori held the post.

  1. Sworn in as Labor secretary one day after a 67-32 Senate vote. 1

  2. Moved to rescind Biden-era guidance that had warned retirement-plan managers about putting cryptocurrency in 401(k) plans. 1

  3. Backed Trump's firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after a weak jobs report, citing a string of large revisions. 5

  4. Her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff were placed on leave as the inspector general examined complaints; both were out of their jobs by early March. 1 2

  5. Resigned; White House Communications Director Steven Cheung announced it on X and named Keith Sonderling acting secretary. NPR reported she stepped down one day before a scheduled interview with investigators. 2 4

Disputes, and their side

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

  1. The Labor Department inspector general, after interviewing 53 current and former employees, found that senior aides demeaned and threatened staff and that she appeared to know and did not act; that personal trips were paired with official events to use government money; that aides did personal chores for her on work time; and that she did not report gifts such as rodeo tickets. 3 4

    Their side: Her attorney, Nick Oberheiden, said the report found no broken laws, that some people may not have liked how she ran the department, and that she remains proud of her service. 4

  2. The same report found an inappropriately close and unprofessional relationship between her and an agent on her security detail but no proof of a romantic or sexual relationship. 4

    Their side: She and the White House had denied the allegations of an affair when they were first reported; she was not interviewed by investigators. 4

  3. The New York Times reported that her husband was barred from Labor Department headquarters after at least two employees said he touched them inappropriately; Washington police and federal prosecutors closed their inquiries without charges. 2

    Their side: No public response found in the sources reviewed.

Career

  1. Member, Happy Valley (Oregon) City Council
  2. Mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon
  3. Lost two races for the Oregon House of Representatives
  4. U.S. Representative for Oregon's 5th district; lost reelection in November 2024
  5. Secretary of Labor

Our reporting

We have not yet published a story that names Lori Chavez-DeRemer. When we do, it will appear here.

Sources for this file

  1. Wikipedia, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Nov. 13, 2026
  2. NPR (via Connecticut Public), Trump's labor secretary resigns amid investigation into misconduct, April 20, 2026
  3. AP (via PBS NewsHour), 'Toxic, intimidating and humiliating': Ex-labor secretary oversaw hostile work environment, watchdog finds, Sept. 4, 2026
  4. NPR (via KUOW), 4 things investigators learned about the dysfunction at Trump's Labor Department, Sept. 4, 2026
  5. CBS News, Trump fires Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner after disappointing job numbers, Aug. 2, 2025
  6. Wikipedia, Second cabinet of Donald Trump, Nov. 13, 2026

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