Good news for employers.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Keith Sonderling as our new Secretary of Labor. Mr. Sonderling had been Acting Secretary since the resignation of Lori Chavez-DeRemer in April.
The Senate vote to confirm Mr. Sonderling was 47-41, along party lines. Twelve Senators (a mix of Republicans and Democrats) did not vote, including Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Mark Warner (D-VA).
During the first Trump Administration, Mr. Sonderling was Acting and Deputy Administrator of the DOL's Wage and Hour Division, and after that, a Commissioner on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. During his time on the EEOC, he took a special interest in the use of artificial intelligence in making employment-related decisions. He presented a webinar on this topic with Constangy in 2022.
Mr. Sonderling's term on the EEOC did not expire until August 2024, during the Biden Administration. In 2025, after President Trump began his second term, he appointed Mr. Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of Labor under Ms. Chavez-DeRemer.
The U.S. Department of Labor is in charge of the Wage and Hour Division (which interprets and enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act, among other laws), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, and more.
Congratulations, Secretary Sonderling! We look forward to working with you.
Of Counsel & Chief Legal EditorRobin also conducts internal investigations and delivers training for HR professionals, managers, and employees on topics such as harassment prevention, disability accommodation, and leave management.
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This is Constangy’s flagship law blog, founded in 2010 by Robin Shea, who is chief legal editor and a regular contributor. This nationally recognized blog also features posts from other Constangy attorneys in the areas of immigration, labor relations, and sports law, keeping HR professionals and employers informed about the latest legal trends.
