United States | Keith Sonderling confirmed as new Secretary of Labor

On Sept. 30, 2026, the U.S. Senate confirmed Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling as the new U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Key takeaways:

Sonderling confirmed by Senate majority. The Senate confirmed Sonderling with a majority vote of 47–41.

Appointment followed exit of Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Following the departure of former Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Sonderling was designated Acting Secretary of Labor on April 20, 2026, and nominated to serve as Secretary of Labor on June 29, 2026.

Sonderling held previous roles in government and academia. Sonderling has previously served as Deputy Secretary of Labor and as a commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions within the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor and has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University Law School, teaching employment law.

Additional information: The U.S. Secretary of Labor is a Presidential Cabinet role that oversees the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and its 25 agencies in advancing its mission “to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.”

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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