Trump Elevates Insider Keith Sonderling as Acting Labor Secretary Amid DOL Turmoil

The White House named Keith Sonderling acting Labor secretary after Lori Chavez-DeRemer unexpectedly resigned Monday, reinforcing a widespread view inside the agency and among business groups that the deputy effectively ran day-to-day operations during her tenure.

Sonderling, a seasoned Washington insider with deep Republican ties in Washington and Florida, now faces the immediate task of steadying a Labor Department that has been mired in controversy and turnover. Business groups, surprised by Chavez-DeRemer’s initial selection because of her perceived union-friendly background, had lobbied for Sonderling to take a senior role at DOL.

Background and Influence

Sonderling’s influence stretches back to the presidential transition and has grown over the past 18 months. He previously served in the Wage and Hour Division during the first Trump administration before being confirmed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he took a prominent role in shaping policy around artificial intelligence and the workplace.

After leaving the EEOC at the end of his term in 2024, Sonderling told associates he planned to return to the private sector and was initially reluctant to re-enter government. He joined the Trump transition team and was among the first advisers assigned to DOL, later serving as a senior adviser to then-acting Labor Secretary Vince Micone. The Senate confirmed him as deputy secretary in March 2025, two days after confirming Chavez-DeRemer.

Running the Department

DOL insiders say Chavez-DeRemer spent much of her first year traveling and was often absent from headquarters, which allowed Sonderling and Courtney Walter, a senior counselor and fellow first-term DOL alumnus, to assume day-to-day leadership.

“His job title considerably understates his importance on labor and employment matters to the administration,” said Roger King, senior labor and employment counsel for the CHRO Association.

Even critics of his employer-friendly policy positions often describe Sonderling as direct and accessible. “I’ve always known him to be a straight shooter and accessible,” said Judy Conti, a longtime progressive labor consultant. “We disagree, but it’s always in a respectful fashion.”

Broader Role And Legal Standing

In addition to DOL duties, the 43-year-old Sonderling is serving as acting director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and has been involved in vetting candidates for other agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board. Earlier this month, the White House nominated DOL official James Macy to fill a Republican vacancy on the board.

Under current legal interpretations used by the prior administration and supported by a 2023 Government Accountability Office report, a deputy labor secretary can serve in an acting capacity “until a successor is appointed.” That interpretation means Sonderling could continue as acting secretary for an extended period if the White House chooses not to nominate a permanent successor.

“If Trump is happy with Sonderling … even if there is no nomination, he could be acting labor secretary the rest of the term,” said Thomas Berry of the Cato Institute.

What Comes Next

It remains unclear whether the White House will formally nominate Sonderling for the permanent post. Supporters say he would provide steady, policy-focused leadership even if he lacks the high-profile cachet often sought for Cabinet-level posts. Any eventual nomination could face tougher scrutiny in the Senate than his prior confirmations did, as recent acting-secretary nomination fights have shown.

As acting secretary, Sonderling’s near-term priorities are expected to center on executing the administration’s workplace agenda, shepherding key personnel decisions, and minimizing further disruptions at an agency that many observers say has been an afterthought in recent administrations.