Lori Chavez-DeRemer resignation: White House confirms US labour secretary exit amid allegations

The White House said on Monday that Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer was leaving President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. The announcement came after several allegations of misuse of authority. The claims included an affair with a subordinate and drinking alcohol at work. Steven Cheung said Chavez-DeRemer would take a private sector role.

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Cheung posted on X: "Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be leaving the Administration to take a position in the private sector,\". Cheung also wrote: \"She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives.\" Keith Sonderling will serve as acting labour secretary.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer allegations and investigation

NOTUS first reported Chavez-DeRemer’s resignation. Reports from January said Chavez-DeRemer faced several investigations. Last Wednesday, The New York Times said the Labour Department inspector general reviewed material. It showed Chavez-DeRemer, top aides, and family sent personal requests to young staff. The paper said the husband and father texted young female staff.

People familiar with the inquiry told the Times that staff were told to pay attention to family. The messages surfaced during a wider leadership review, the report said. That review followed a January New York Post story. The Post said a complaint to the inspector general alleged a relationship. Separate claims said Chavez-DeRemer drank at work and used trips for personal aims.

The White House and the Labour Department first dismissed the claims as baseless. The denials became less forceful as more allegations appeared. The timing of a possible exit then became widely discussed in Washington. The New York Times reported at least four Labour officials lost jobs during the probe. They included the former chief of staff and deputy chief.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer Cabinet exit and reactions

Chavez-DeRemer became the third Cabinet member to leave after other departures. Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March. Trump also removed Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this month. Chavez-DeRemer’s departure differed in one way. A White House aide announced it, not Trump on a social media account.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., commented after the news became public. Kennedy said: \"I think the secretary demonstrated a lot of wisdom in resigning,\". The White House did not provide further details on timing. Cheung’s post focused on the move to private work. The administration named Sonderling as the acting replacement.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer union support and political record

Chavez-DeRemer was confirmed in March 2025 by a 67-32 Senate vote. Chavez-DeRemer previously served as a House GOP lawmaker from Oregon. Chavez-DeRemer represented a swing district and lost reelection in November 2024. Chavez-DeRemer drew unusual union support for a Republican. Chavez-DeRemer backed legislation to ease federal unionisation.

Chavez-DeRemer also backed a separate bill on Social Security for public-sector workers. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters supported Chavez-DeRemer for the Labour post. Chavez-DeRemer is a daughter of a Teamster. Some observers saw Trump’s choice as an appeal to labour-linked voters. Other labour leaders doubted a union-friendly approach in a GOP administration.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer Labour Department deregulation and policy

Chavez-DeRemer kept a low profile but advanced parts of Trump’s deregulation agenda. The Labour Department last year sought to rewrite or repeal over 60 rules. The department called them outdated workplace regulations. The rollbacks covered minimum wage rules for home health workers. They also included rules for people with disabilities and mine safety procedures.

Union leaders and safety experts criticised the proposed changes. Other proposals included removing lighting requirements at construction sites. They also sought to drop seat belt rules for agriculture workers. During Chavez-DeRemer’s term, the administration cancelled millions in international grants. Those grants targeted child labour and slave labour abroad and helped cut child labourers by 78 million.

The Labour Department has wide duties across the US workforce. It reports the US unemployment rate and sets health and safety standards. The department probes disputes on minimum wage, child labour, and overtime. It also applies laws on union organising and unlawful terminations. Chavez-DeRemer’s exit followed months of scrutiny and the ongoing investigations.

With inputs from PTI